Highway horror in Odisha: Forester loses life, 3 others critical in car-pickup collision

A tragic road accident claimed the life of a forester while three others sustained grievous injuries near Dengaguda Chhak on the Bharatmala Highway under Papadahandi block in Nabarangpur district on Wednesday morning.

According to reports, a car carrying three foresters collided head-on with a pickup van coming from the opposite direction. The impact of the crash was so severe that one of the foresters died on the spot, while three others — including two forest department personnel — were critically injured.

The deceased has been identified as Gupta Prasad Mahanti, a forester posted under the Jharigaon Range. The injured were immediately rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Nabarangpur, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Their condition is said to be serious.

Also Read: 3 dead, 2 injured in separate road accidents in Odisha

Sources said the foresters were on their way to G. Udayagiri of Kandhamal district for a departmental training programme when the accident occurred. Police reached the spot soon after being informed and have started an investigation into the incident.

The mangled vehicles have been seized, and efforts are underway to ascertain the exact cause of the collision.

The untimely death of the forest official has cast a pall of gloom in the department, with colleagues and locals expressing deep grief over the incident.