Dhenkanal: A tragic road accident claimed one life and left another critically injured in Dhenkanal district on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
The mishap occurred at around 4 PM near Shankarapur Mahisha Pat when a Public Distribution System (PDS) rice-laden truck collided head-on with a motorcycle. The impact was so severe that the two-wheeler was dragged under the truck’s wheels.
According to preliminary reports, Shyam Sundar Nayak, a lassi shopkeeper from Anand Bazar, along with his wife Bharati Nayak, was returning from his in-laws’ house when the accident took place.
Eyewitnesses said the motorcycle got trapped beneath the truck following the collision. Shyam Sundar Nayak was crushed under the heavy vehicle and died on the spot.
On being alerted, fire service personnel, along with police and local residents, rushed to the scene and undertook a rescue operation to extricate the victims from beneath the truck.
Bharati Nayak, who sustained critical injuries, was immediately shifted to the Dhenkanal District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. Her condition is stated to be serious.
The accident led to a temporary blockade of the road as rescue and clearance operations were carried out. Police have initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
