At least nine persons were killed and several others were injured in separate road mishaps in Odisha on Monday.
In Sambalpur district, three people were killed and four others suffered injuries after the auto rickshaw they were travelling in collided with an oil tanker near Tabalakata square on National Highway 49 under Kuchinda block. The injured persons were rescued immediately and rushed to Kuchinda government hospital. The accident triggered tension as angry locals staged a road blockade.
In Sundargarh district, an auto rickshaw and an ambulance collided in Bonai area, killing two persons and leaving eight, including two women, injured. The injured persons were admitted to a hospital in Rourkela. All the dead and injured passengers were travelling in the auto and returning from Bonai weekly market. After the mishap, both the vehicles skidded off the road and rolled down to a 20 ft roadside gorge.
In Jajpur district, three persons were killed in two separate road mishaps.
A Class IX girl student died after being knocked down by a Hyva truck at a place under Sadar police limits in Kendrapara district. The deceased girl was returning from her tuition when the mishap occurred. As the news spread, local people staged a road blockade putting the body on the road, demanding adequate compensation to the bereaved family.