Tragic! Two stranded labourers die while returning to Odisha from Hyderabad on bicycle

Dhenkanal: After being stuck for days without food outside Odisha due to nationwide lockdown, two migrant labourers died in a road mishap while returning to their villages on a bicycle from Hyderabad.

The deceased persons have been identified as Jitan Behera (30), a resident of Dahanimara village and his nephew (sister’s son) Narottam Behera (28) of Kantapala village, both under Hindol block in Dhenkanal district.

According family sources, both Jitan and Narottam had migrated to Hyderabad a few years ago and were engaged as workers in a hotel there. After the nationwide lockdown enforced in the city to prevent spread of COVID-19, the hotel was shut. As they had no work and ran out of savings, both suffered from hunger from a few past weeks.

The duo decided to return to home state soon after lifting of lockdown on April 14. However, obstruction came on their way as the Centre announced extension of lockdown for another 19 days till May 3.

As all the means of transportation services remain suspended till indefinite period, the maternal uncle-nephew duo decided to pedal thousands of kelometre to reach home in Dhenkanal district of Odisha from Hyderabad. Carrying some dry foods with them, the two stranded labourers started the long journey on April 19.

While they were enroute to Odisha, an unknown vehicle hit their bicycle at around 4.00 am on Saturday in West Godavari area in Andhra Pradesh following which they died on the spot.

On receiving information, the local police reached the accident site and recovered the bodies. They informed their family members after collecting phone numbers from mobile phones of deceased persons. To confirm their identities, cops also sent photographs of deceased men on WhatsApp.

The bereaved families approached the district administration to get the bodies from Andhra Pradesh police.

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