Koraput: At least 15 BSF jawans were injured when a van carrying them overturned near Laxmipur in Koraput district early Wednesday morning, police said.
The injured were rushed to Laxmipur community health centre and Sahid Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital at Koraput, the police said, adding four of them who sustained critical injuries were shifted to a Visakhapatnam hospital for advanced treatment.
“All the injured jawans are out of danger but not to take any chance the four jawans were air-lifted to a hospital in Visakhapatnam,” said sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Laxmipur, Hemant Kumar Padhi.
The incident took place about five km from Laxmipur on Laxmipur-Rayagada road while the jawans were returning to their camp based at Laxmipur after completing a night operation in the area.
The vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge, Padhi said.
Commandant BK Mandhata of the 195th BSF battalion and BSF DIG A Ramulu visited the injured jawans at Laxmipur CHC. They made arrangements to airlift the four of them to Visakhapatnam. Laxmipur MLA Kailash Chandra Kulesika and other revenue officials visited the jawans at the CHC.
Meanwhile, locals blamed ARSS, a construction company engaged in road widening, for the mishap. The accident cases have been on the rise as the company continues to excavate the stretches at will without putting up any sign board to alert the commuters. As the battalion was new in the area, the driver was not acquainted with the road position and lost control over the wheels leading to the mishap, they added. PNN
