Keonjhar: At least eight people were killed and seven others critically injured after a van rammed into the rear of a truck parked on the National Highway No 20 near Balijodi village under Ghatgaon police limits in Odisha’s Keonjhar district in the early hours of Friday. All the deceased were from two families from Digapahandi in Ganjam.
According to reports, the accident occurred when 20 people from Podamari village were on their way to Maa Tarini Temple in the district in the van. While seven people died on the spot, another succumbed to injuries during treatment at Ghatgaon Hospital. Initially, the injured were rushed to Ghatgaon Hospital but later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
On being informed, Balijodi police reached the spot and rushed the injured to a nearby health center, while the bodies were sent for post-mortem. The police have launched an investigation into the accident.
Although the exact reason for the accident is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected that the van driver missed seeing the truck parked beside the road.
A detailed report is awaited.
