Auto-rickshaw falls off ghat in Odisha; 12 schoolchildren among 17 injured

A serious road accident occurred on Monday at Jarau Ghat under Mohana police limits in Odisha’s Gajapati district, where an auto-rickshaw lost control, hit an electric pole, and plunged nearly 10 feet down the slope. The fatal mishap left more than 17 people injured, including 12 schoolchildren and a woman.

Also Read: Major mishap averted: 10 students rescued after auto falls into canal in Salepur

According to sources, parents from four villages had hired four auto-rickshaws to take their children to a residential ashram school located at Gadagada. While navigating the ghat road, one of the auto-rickshaws lost balance and collided with an electric pole, and fell down. Twelve children are among the injured, with five said to be in critical condition.

All injured persons were initially rushed to a health centre in Badagada with the help of ambulances from Badagada and Mohana for medical treatment. Due to the seriousness of their injuries, around ten critically injured victims were later shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital (MKCGMCH) in Berhampur.

On being informed, Mohana police reached the spot and have started an investigation into the incident, which is underway.

However, no comments were received from the local police in this regard.

Worth mentioning, earlier in another incident, a major tragedy had been narrowly averted in Salepur locality of Cuttack district on September 16 last year after an auto-rickshaw carrying 10 school students overturned into Canal No. 5 near Balisahi.

The accident had triggered panic in the area, but all the children were safely rescued, while the driver sustained only minor injuries.

The driver of the ill-fated auto-rickshaw had said the accident occurred when he swerved to avoid a stray dog that had suddenly crossed the road, causing the vehicle to lose balance and topple into the canal.