Digapahandi: In a tragic incident, one person was killed and five others sustained serious injuries when the auto-rickshaw they were travelling in was hit by a speeding truck coming from the opposite direction near Rajpur Chhak on Digapahandi-Aska main road under this police limits in Ganjam district, in the wee hours of Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Ramnath Paraja, a resident of Katinikund village under Baipariguda police limits in Koraput district. The critically injured persons were identified as Ram Paraja, Phulamati Paraja and Kuni Paraja, residents of Katinikunda village, Purandar Sandha of Butapani village and auto driver Ramesh Chandra Sahu of Sahaspur village under Patapur police limits.
According to sources, the ill-fated auto-rickshaw (OR-07 X9093) was carrying five labourers on its way to a brick kiln near Patapur when the three wheeler collided head-on with a plastic pipe-laden truck (OD-05 BF-8929) leading to the death and injuries. The auto-rickshaw was badly damaged in the mishap, the source added. Some locals rescued the injured and rushed them to Digapahandi Community Health Centre (CHC) for treatment. Later, they were shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital (MKCGMCH) in Berhampur after their conditions deteriorated. While undergoing treatment, Ramnath Paraja died at the hospital. Digapahandi police reached the spot and began a probe.
