Chhatrapur: A horror road accident occurred Wednesday evening on National Highway 16 near Chamakhandi junction under Chakmakhandi police station limits in Ganjam district.
The accident claimed the life of a woman and left about 10 people, including minors, critically injured.
Local residents and police rescued the injured and rushed them to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Brahmapur. The deceased was identified as Rosalin Rani Mishra, 42, of Brahmapur.
A car and a truck first collided near Chamakhandi junction, sources said. The vehicles then went out of control and rammed into several two-wheelers and bicycles, triggering a series of accidents.
Several motorcycle riders were injured.
Following the accident, local residents blocked NH-16, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway.
Tension prevailed at the scene for some time. After receiving information, several administrative and police officials and local leaders rushed to the spot.
They included Ganjam SP Harisha BC, Chhatrapur MLA Krushna Chandra Nayak, Chhatrapur SDPO Chandan Kumar Ghadei, Chamakhandi IIC Shradhanjali Subuddhi, former MLA N Narayan Reddy, Brahmapur MP’s representative R Santosh Reddy and Congress leader Bhagirathi Behera, along with other leaders and local residents.
The residents demanded better medical treatment for the injured and measures to prevent future accidents.
Their demands included construction of an overbridge, deployment of police personnel on the highway and installation of barricades.
Following discussions with police and administrative officials, the residents lifted the blockade, restoring normal traffic flow on NH-16