Lord Jagannath visit ends in tragedy; 3 friends killed after being run over by 'Ama Bus' while going to Puri for Rath Yatra

A tragic road accident occurred near Tarakaj under the Pipili area on Saturday, resulting in the death of three young women who were on their way to Puri on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra.

According to eyewitnesses, the victims were on their way from Bhubaneswar to Puri when their scooter was sideswiped by an 'Ama Bus'. The impact caused them to fall onto the road.

Moments later, the bus ran over all three, leading to their immediate death on the spot. Sources confirm that the victims were riding together on a two-wheeler when the collision took place. The accident has sent shockwaves through the region, raising fresh concerns over highway safety and reckless driving.

Local police have reached the spot and initiated an investigation into the incident. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem, and efforts are on to identify the victims and inform their families.

Responding to the incident, Chief Minister (CM) Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief and announced an ex gratia assistance of Rs 4 lakh to each of the deceased victims' families from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF).

The accident has sparked outrage and sorrow across the state, especially as the victims were devotees en route to one of Odisha’s holiest sites.