Nabarangpur: A tragic road accident claimed the life of a forester and left three others seriously injured on Wednesday afternoon near Dengaguda Chhak under Papadahandi block in Nabarangpur district. The mishap occurred when a car carrying three foresters collided head-on with a pickup van on the Bharat Mala road.
According to reports, foresters Gupta Prasad Mohanty and Tanuj Kumar Parichha of Jharigaon Range in Nabarangpur district and Umerkote Range Forester Kamaksha Prasad Swain were travelling from Umerkote to G. Udayagiri in Kandhamal district for a training programme. Near Dengaguda, their car collided with an oncoming pickup van, leaving all four occupants — including the pickup driver — critically injured.
Local villagers rushed to the spot and rescued the victims. However, forester Gupta Prasad Mohanty succumbed to his injuries before reaching the hospital. The remaining three were taken to the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital by a 108 ambulance service.
After preliminary treatment, foresters Tanuj Kumar Parichha and Kamaksha Prasad Swain, who sustained grievous injuries, were shifted to a private hospital in Visakhapatnam for advanced care. The pickup driver continues to receive treatment at the district headquarters hospital.
The deceased’s body has been kept at the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem.
Papadahandi and Kodinga police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.
