Berhampur: In a major road mishap, four persons of a family were crushed to death under the wheels of a school bus and a two-year-old boy was orphaned. The incident occurred while the family on a motorbike was on its way to attend an engagement ceremony at Gosaninuagaon here in Ganjam district Wednesday
Santosh Gouda along with his wife Koki Gouda, son Krishna Gouda (6), daughter Kaberi Gouda (5) and Rahul Gouda (2) on a motorbike set off to Golanthara to attend one of his relatives’ engagement. Meanwhile, an over-speeding school bus ran over them near a bridge in Gosaninuagaon.
Minors Krushna and Kaberi were killed on the spot while locals rescued Santosh and his wife Koki and admitted them to Berhampur MKCG Medical College and Hospital. However, the two died while undergoing treatment. Mysteriously, Rahul was saved by a whisker but was seen weeping with no one to take care of. He was orphaned.
Similarly, three persons including two women were killed while three others battled for lives after a car hit a bike and an Andhra truck from the rear after the driver lost balance on the wheels at Cuttacksahara chhak on Bhubaneswar-Berhampur National Highway-16 under Chandpur police outpost in Nayagarh district Wednesday.
Irate over the incident, locals thronged to the spot and called a demonstration blocking the highway for hours. Vehicular movements came to a standstill after vehicles were halted on both sides of the highway disrupting normal lives. The agitators placed the bodies and continued the stir demanding compensation for the bereaved families.
According to sources, a car on its way to Chhatrapur from Bhubaneswar hit a biker while trying to overtake it. Later, it rammed into an Andhra truck en route to Berhampur leading to the death of two women who were seated in the car. The biker was also killed on the spot. Three others including the Andhra truck driver was rendered critical in the road mishap.
Locals rushed to the spot and alerted local police who rescued the injured and admitted them to Tangi government hospital. They were later shifted to Bhubaneswar-based hospital after primary treatment.
On learning the incident, Ranpur IIC Rashmi Ranjan Pattnaik and Chandpur outpost officer Bipin Bihari Sethy reached the spot with forces and brought the situation under control. Police seized the vehicles and held discussions with demonstrators. The police pacified the agitators and assured to provide necessary compensation. Later, the agitation was called off and bodies sent for autopsy. The identity of the bodies was yet to be known. PNN
