Berhampur: Two students were killed after the biker lost control, hit a tree, and plunged into a canal at Pandiajholi under Kukudakhandi block in Ganjam district Tuesday night. The deceased were identified as Kshyamaprasad Gouda, 15, son of Rabindra Gauda, and Pritam Sethi, 14, son of Sushant Sethi, of Pandiajholi village under Rohigan panchayat. Kshyamaprasad was appearing for his HSC exam, with the final paper scheduled for Thursday, while Pritam was a student of Class IX. Their parents had high hopes for their education, but their dreams were shattered with the deaths. The duo was cremated at the village crematorium Wednesday. According to reports, Kshyamaprasad had returned home after his Tuesday examination.
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Around 9 p.m., he borrowed a bike from his cousin and took Pritam along for a ride. Two other minors followed them from behind on another bike. As they crossed the main canal bridge of the Rushikulya river, which lacked a guard wall, the motorcycle crashed into a tree, sending them plunging nearly 25 feet down into the canal. Villagers rushed to the spot and pulled Kshyamaprasad and Pritam out in critical condition and rushed them to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. However, doctors at the hospital pronounced both dead on arrival. Sadar Police seized the submerged motorcycle and handed over the bodies to the respective family members after a post-mortem. A case has been registered in connection with the incident.
