Bhubaneswar: An accident occurred on the Sonepur-Sambalpur road on Thursday when a speeding pickup van struck four people consuming tea at a roadside tea stall near Metkani temple. The incident left three dead, with one person critically injured.
The deceased have been identified as Raja Kumbhar of Ainlachhat village, Debananda Surujal, and Sushant Sahu of Matikhai village. Karan Kumbhar of Ainlachhat village, who suffered severe injuries, was initially treated at Ulunda Health Centre and later shifted to Burla Medical College and Hospital for further treatment.
Eyewitnesses said that the pickup van, travelling from Sonepur, hit them at high speed and fled the scene. Locals rushed the victims to the hospital, where three were pronounced dead by doctors.
Police responded promptly by launching an investigation to apprehend the driver of the pickup van. Bodies have been seized for post-mortem, police said.
