Driver dead, highway choked after two trucks collide head-on in Odisha’s Bolangir

A fatal collision between two trucks on National Highway-26 near GhuchepaliChhak under Deogaon police limits in Bolangir district early Monday morning left one driver dead and brought traffic to a standstill for hours.

Sources reported that the impact of the crash, which occurred close to Titilagarh, was so severe that both vehicles were left badly mangled, blocking the entire stretch of the national highway and stranding hundreds of vehicles on both sides.

Massive Gridlock On NH-26 After Impact

Reports stated that the accident took place around dawn when one of the trucks, reportedly carrying industrial materials, veered out of its lane and collided head-on with another truck coming from the opposite direction.

The collision was so violent that the front portions of both vehicles were completely crushed. The driver of one truck died on the spot, while the other sustained serious injuries.

Following the accident, hundreds of vehicles piled up along both ends of the highway. The narrow stretch near Ghuchhepali quickly became impassable, forcing buses, trucks, and private cars to halt for several kilometres.

Commuters remained stranded for hours, with some travellers reportedly stepping out of their vehicles as police began clearing operations.

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Rescue Teams Deployed, Traffic Clearance Underway

Teams from the Deogaon police station and the local fire brigade rushed to the accident site soon after receiving the alert. Using gas cutters and heavy tools, firefighters pulled the trapped driver’s body from the crushed cabin.

The rescue operation took considerable time due to the entangled wreckage and the narrow width of the highway. Police personnel simultaneously attempted to divert vehicles through nearby rural routes to ease congestion.

As of the last reports, police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the collision. The body of the deceased driver has been sent for post-mortem at the Titilagarh sub-divisional hospital.