Post News Network
Rayagada, Feb 17: In a tragic incident, eight persons including a three-year-old boy were killed and eight others injured, some critically, in a road mishap near Kattapeta Square under Chandili police limits of Rayagada district Tuesday afternoon.
The mishap occurred when an auto-rickshaw had a head-on collision with a truck coming from the opposite direction. Two of the deceased were identified as A Janardan of Parshurampur area in Andhra Pradesh and Kupa Jhodia of Mankadjhola village in Rayagada district. The identity of other deceased persons was not immediately ascertained.
According to the eye-witnesses, 17 passengers were aboard the auto-rickshaw. Most of the people were going to a Shiva temple to offer puja on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri.
As the auto-rickshaw was overloaded, its driver lost control over it. The auto collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction. Five passengers perished on the spot while three died on their way to hospital.
The injured were immediately rushed to the district headquarters hospital. Some of them were later shifted to Care Hospital at Vishakhapatnam.
Locals staged a road-blockade at the mishap site soon after the accident demanding compensation for the victims. The protest was on till the report was filed.
Collector Shasi Bhushan Padhi said the administration has shifted some of the injured persons to Care Hospital in Andhra Pradesh. He added that the administration will bear the medical expenses of the injured and it has provided Rs 2,000 to each of their families.
He said the district administration would recommend to the Chief Minister to provide assistance to the families of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
