Bhubaneswar: The day following the conclusion of the Road Safety Week could not have been more ironical with as many as 15 people across Odisha losing their lives in separate road mishaps today. Besides, a total of 29 persons were injured in the accidents.
At least four persons including two women were killed and 11 others critically injured after a pick-up van they were travelling in overturned near Pangama in Malkangiri district today.
The mishap occurred when the pickup carrying 25-30 persons was going towards Mathili. Sources said the driver lost control of the vehicle leading to the mishap on Malkangiri-Gobindpalli road.
As per reports, the injured were rushed to the Mathili hospital by locals. However, 10 persons have been shifted to the Malkangiri district headquarters hospital after their condition deteriorated. The death toll is likely to increase as the condition of many injured is still stated to be critical, informed sources.
While the vehicle owner and driver are absconding, police have registered a case and initiated a probe into the incident.
Meanwhile, tension erupted at the accident site as locals demanded appropriate compensation for the kin of the deceased. Irate locals staged a protest preventing the police from sending the bodies for post mortem. However, after holding discussions, police pacified the crowd and sent the bodies for post mortem.
In another mishap, one person died and 10 others were injured when a van overturned near Kirimira in Titlagarh. The accident occurred when the vehicle carrying a marriage party was on its way to Nalajhara from Titlagarh. The injured have been admitted to the Titlagarh hospital.
While in Rourkela, two women were killed after being hit by a trailer truck near TCI Chhak, one person was killed and two injured in a collision between two trucks at Bhagia Chhak in Soro of Balasore district.
In Udala, a pedestrian was killed after being hit by a motorcycle near Purunapani Chhak whereas one person lost his life in head-on collision between a car and motorcycle near Subuddhipatna Chhak in Balugaon of Khurda.
Similarly, one person was killed while three were injured when a car overturned near Manamunda in Boudh. In Angul, a cyclist was killed after being hit by a car at Khamar in Pallahara. One person died and three others were injured in collision between two motorcycles at Malada in Paikamal of Bargarh distirct. In Malkangiri, a motorcyclist was killed in road mishap at MV-38 while another person died after being hit by a train near Bansapani station in Keonjhar.