RI dead, 6 others critically injured in car crash near Odisha’s Hindol

A road mishap turned fatal for two Revenue Inspectors (RIs), with one losing his life and another critically injured near Mahidharpur under Hindol block in Dhenkanal district. The victims were returning with their families from a pilgrimage to Tara-Tarini Temple in Berhampur when their car veered off the road and hit a tree in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Also Read: Around 15 persons die every day due to road mishaps: Odisha Minister

The deceased was identified as Mrutyunjay Panigrahi, RI of Panchamahala in Angul district. 

Chhendipada RI Nilu Sethy has sustained grievous injuries. Nilu Sethy was driving the ill-fated car when he lost control of the car and the vehicle crashed into a roadside tree, leading to an untimely death.

In total, six people including Chhendipada RI Sethy were injured in the incident and have been admitted to Angul district headquarters hospital (DHH) for treatment.

No comments were received from local police and the two families in this regard.

Worth mentioning, the state is grappling with an unsettling escalation in road accidents which tragically claim the lives of approximately 15 individuals each day.

During a session in Odisha Legislative Assembly, Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena had revealed this disturbing data. The daily average of road accidents stands at 31, resulting in approximately 27 injuries.

Despite the State government's efforts aimed at diminishing these fatal incidents, including various road safety initiatives, experts contend these programmes are largely confined to theoretical plans, limited to reviews and meetings alone.

Alarming statistics surfaced, showing an average of five accidents every four hours, leading to injuries, with three fatalities occurring nearly every five hours.

In the past five years, the State has witnessed an annual average of 11,366 road accidents, injuring nearly 10,008 people and claiming around 5,433 lives.