Class II Girl Dies, 4 Others Injured As School Auto-Rickshaw Overturns

Kendrapara: A Class II girl was killed and four others including three students and a teacher of Oupada Sishu Vidya Mandir sustained critical injuries after an auto-rickshaw carrying them overturned near Gara Chhak under Pattamundai block in Kendrapara district today.

The deceased girl has been identified as Subhasmita Swain. All the injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The auto-rickshaw was reportedly engaged by school authorities for ferrying children.

According to reports, at around 11 AM, the auto-rickshaw was on its way from the school to drop children at their homes, when suddenly, the driver lost control over the vehicle near Gara Chhak and it overturned. The driver of the vehicle immediately fled the spot after the mishap.

Locals rushed to the spot and rescued all the victims from the ill-fated vehicle. Irate over the incident, eyewitnesses staged a demonstration and set the auto-rickshaw on fire after ransacking it. They claimed the vehicle was carrying persons beyond its capacity which led to the mishap.

Police rushed to the spot after getting information and launched an investigation into the incident.