A group of women on their way to Puri for the darshan of Lord Jagannath sustained injuries after their tempo traveller met with an accident and overturned near Machhalo Chhak in Anandapur in Odisha's Keonjhar on late Saturday night. Fifteen people were injured in the incident, with four reported to be in critical condition at the time of reporting.

As per reports, the accident occurred when women belonging to a self-help group from Purunia village under Ghasipura police station limits were travelling towards Puri. Midway through the journey, the vehicle overturned after reportedly being hit from the rear by another vehicle. 

All injured passengers were reportedly rescued by police and rushed to Anandapur Sub-divisional Hospital. The critically injured were later shifted to Cuttack's SCBMCH. Police said that the exact cause of the accident has not yet been established, and an investigation is currently underway.

Injured Recounts Incident

Speaking from the hospital, one of the injured women, Manjulata Bal, said, “The vehicle hit us from the rear while we were on our way to Puri. The accident happened near Machhalo Chhak, and our vehicle overturned.”

Another villager from Purunia, Bishnu Nayak, stated that several passengers sustained serious injuries. 

“The women were travelling to Puri when a heavy vehicle collided with their vehicle from the rear and caused a severe accident. Eight of them were referred to Cuttack SCBMCH, and a total of 14 individuals were in the tempo traveller,” he said.

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Police sources said they were attempting to identify the vehicle that collided with the traveller.