Driver charred to death after container hits toll gate in Odisha's Balasore

A driver was charred to death after his vehicle rammed into a cabin at Laxmannath toll gate and caught fire in Odisha's Balasore district in the wee hours of Sunday.  The identity of the deceased container driver is yet to be ascertained.

According to initial reports, the container was on its way from Kolkata to Tamil Nadu via Odisha's Laxmannath toll gate. It is unclear whether any helper was accompanying the driver in the container.

"The driver has died following the incident. It is suspected that the container caught fire after hitting the toll gate at around 2:45 am," Ranjan Sethi, an official said.

Jaleswar SDPO said, "The tea-laden container was on its way from Kolkata. The container collided with the toll gate cabin. The driver has been charred to death. The movement of vehicular traffic through the toll gate was affected for some time. Only after the flames were doused, situation was brought under control.

NHAI official said, "The container's fuel tank busted after hit the tollgate and it caught fire. The mishap occurred between 2:30 am to 2:45 am. The flames were so intense that it was not possible to contain it. Later, fire services personnel were informed about the incident.