Kendrapara: Five persons were killed while another suffered critically injuries after the car they were travelling in rammed into another vehicle near Alabanka Chhak under Derabis police limits on National Highway- 5 late last night in Kendrapara district.
Three persons among the five deceased have been identified as Rajesh Jena of Gupti village under Rajnagar area, Debasish Sethi of Belatala village and Harekrushna Sahoo of Garapur village under Pattamundai in the district.
The critically injured person identified as Sangram Mallik, a jatra artist and resident of Angul has been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack from Kendrapara District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) after his condition deteriorated.
According to reports, the incident occurred when all of them were returning to Kendrapara after watching a jatra at Panikoili in Jajpur district.
Sources said Rajesh and Debasish were the members of Royal Dance Group at Tinimuhani in the district.
“We rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident at around 1.30 am. While five had died on the spot, the injured was rescued after the car was cut open with the help of locals and fire personnel,” informed Sudhir Kumar Sahoo, IIC of Derabis Police Station.
Preliminary investigation revealed the car was in high speed due to which the driver lost control and rammed into another vehicle from the rear, police sources added.