Bhubaneswar: Death toll in the series accident at Chamakhandi Square on National Highway-16 in Ganjam district rose to three on Thursday.
Two injured persons — Binod Kumar (40) of Uttar Pradesh and Laxmidhar Gouda (45) of Nauli village — succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital on Thursday morning, said Shradhanjali Subudhi, inspector-in-charge of Chamakhandi police station.
Binod was working in a kewada processing unit near Chamakhandi. On Wednesday evening, Rojalini Mishra (42) of Berhampur, an employee of the district treasury office at Chhatrapur, died on the spot after being hit by the vehicles. She was returning from her office, police said. Eight others are undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, with two of them in critical condition with multiple injuries.
“The critical persons are in ICU,” said hospital superintendent Sudeepa Dash.According to police, the accident occurred when the driver of a truck coming from Chhatrapur side lost control after a car allegedly changed lanes suddenly. The truck rammed into vehicles parked on the side of NH-16. Both the truck and the car then veered off the road and hit several two-wheelers on the roadside.
Police have seized the truck, car and five damaged two-wheelers. The truck driver is absconding. Following the accident, angry locals blocked the National Highway for several hours demanding construction of an overbridge at Chamakhandi Square as a permanent solution to frequent accidents in the area.
