Bhubaneswar: A tragic accident occurred in the early hours of Sunday near Gumma Ghati, 15 km away from Rayagada, where an elderly woman was killed and two others were injured. The incident took place when a tanker rammed into a roadside hut, destroying it along with two nearby shops.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred due to brake failure while the tanker was coming from Tikiri area towards Rayagada around 3 am. Laxmi Patra, the elderly woman who was sleeping in the hut, died on the spot.
The driver of the tanker, identified as Deepak Kujur from Tusur in Sundargarh district, was seriously injured and admitted to the district headquarters hospital in critical condition.
Firefighters, local police, and the driver’s association reached the spot and rescued the injured. Initial investigation revealed that brake failure was the likely cause of the accident. Further probe is underway to determine the exact circumstances leading to the tragic incident.