Post News Network
Berhampur, Oct 30: At least seven people, including a woman, were killed and six others critically injured when a truck rammed into a mini-truck and a bus at Randha Square on NH-16 near here in Ganjam district in the wee hours of Thursday.
The mishap occurred when the driver of the truck veered hard to avoid hitting a biker. He subsequently lost control over the truck and ploughed into the stationary mini-truck and the bus, killing four vegetable retailers, the driver and helper of the mini-truck and the bus conductor, superintendent of police Sarthak Sarangi said.
The deceased were identified as Sanjay Sahu (39) of Balikuda in Cuttack district, G Lalita Reddy (45) of Chikarada village, Srikant Patra of Randha village, Bulu Behera (38) and Ramachandra Samal of Kanishi Haat, Rabindra Barad (48) of Golanthara and Appana Bisoyi (47).
The mishap brought traffic on the route to a complete halt with hundreds of people assembling on the highway on hearing about the mishap. Traffic resumed after the ill-fated vehicles were shifted with the help of a crane.
While six persons died on the spot, another succumbed to injuries in hospital. The injured were admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital here and their condition was stated to be critical, Sarangi said.
The driver and helper of the truck fled soon after the accident.Ganjam district collector Prem Chandra Chaudhary announced Rs 10,000 as financial assistance from the district Red Cross fund to the families of the deceased.
