Two killed as unidentified vehicle hits bike in Odisha’s Bhadrak; locals allege administrative apathy

Two youths were killed in a road accident on the Dhamara–Basudevpur road in Odisha’s Bhadrak district after an unidentified vehicle rammed into their motorcycle late on Monday night, once again raising concerns over road safety on the busy stretch.

The deceased have been identified as Deepak Raut and Chinmay Malik, both natives of Jajpur district. According to sources, the two were employed as JCB operators.

Accident Near Parapokhari Square

The mishap occurred near Parapokhari Square on the Basudevpur–Dhamara road when an unknown vehicle hit the motorcycle on which the two youths were travelling towards Basudevpur. The impact left both riders critically injured.

Rescue Efforts and Hospitalisation

Local residents, along with personnel from the Kasia Marine Police Station, rushed to the spot after the accident and shifted the injured youths to the Basudevpur Community Health Centre. However, doctors declared both of them dead on arrival.

Repeated Accidents Raise Alarm

The accident is not an isolated incident on the Dhamara–Basudevpur road. According to local residents, several minor and major accidents occur on the stretch almost daily. Recently, another accident at the same location claimed the lives of two youths.

Residents cited the heavy movement of iron-laden trucks from the Damajodi region as a major safety concern. They alleged that overspeeding and overloading by these vehicles have contributed significantly to the rising number of accidents, often resulting in fatalities involving both commuters and cattle.

Longstanding Local Demands

Locals claimed that they have staged protests and blocked the road on multiple occasions, demanding the enforcement of speed limits and strict checks on overloading. They also alleged that repeated appeals to the district administration, including the collector, failed to yield any concrete action.

Also Read: Two killed as unidentified vehicle hits motorcycle on SH-57 in Odisha’s Jaleswar

Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are trying to identify the vehicle involved. Further probe is underway.