Bhubaneswar: At least four persons were killed while several others have been left injured in three separate road mishaps today in Odisha.
In Dhenkanal, one person was killed and four others sustained critical injuries after a road grader engaged in construction work on National Highway-55 near Baladiabandha, caused a series of accidents this morning. The grader first hit a scooter and then another two-wheeler, killing one person on the spot. All the four injured have been rushed to SCB hospital in Cuttack.
In another tragic mishap, Additional Collector of Boudh district, Ramakanta Sethi, died in a road accident near Kalarapatha on NH-57. The incident occurred in the wee hours today after Sethi lost balance over his vehicle following which the car rammed into a roadside tree. Though he was rushed to the district headquarters hospital, he breathed his last while undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile in Koraput district, a tractor carrying several volley ball players from Talagola, Pedapadu, Kutubu, Ambapalli and Musuriguda villages fell into a deep gorge near a cement factory in Ambapalli of Pottangi block, leading to death of two persons on the spot. The incident occurred when all of them were returning from the tournament last night.
The deceased have been identified as the tractor driver Bhima Petakari of Karanepadu village and one Chinta Banik of Murusiguda village. Another youth who has sustained critical injuries has been rushed to hospital for treatment.