Baripada: Two youths were killed and another sustained critical injuries after a speeding sand-laden tipper truck allegedly engaged in illegal sand transportation rammed into a motorcycle near Balkachhak under Baisinga Police Station limits in Mayurbhanj district on Saturday evening.
The deceased have been identified as Rupak Dalei (23) of Banktura village in neighbouring Balasore district and Shankar Jena, who succumbed to his injuries while being taken to hospital. Another injured youth, Mukti Kant Jena, is undergoing treatment in critical condition.
According to police and local sources, the accident occurred on the Baisinga-Gandarda road when a tipper truck carrying sand allegedly extracted illegally from the Budhabalanga riverbed was speeding through a village road. The three youths were travelling on a motorcycle from Baisinga towards Gandarda when the truck collided with their vehicle near Balkachhak.
Rupak Dalei died on the spot, while the two injured youths were rushed to Balasore Hospital. Shankar Jena, however, died on the way to the hospital.
The incident triggered strong resentment among local residents, who accused authorities of failing to curb rampant illegal sand mining and transportation in the Mayurbhanj-Balasore border region. Villagers alleged that hundreds of tractors, tippers and dumpers transport sand illegally from the Budhabalanga riverbed every day, using interior village roads to bypass the Padmanabhapur Toll Plaza on the National Highway and evade taxes.
Tension prevailed in the area after the mishap as residents protested against the alleged illegal sand transportation. Police personnel led by Baisinga Police Station Inspector-in-Charge Barini Das reached the spot and pacified the agitated crowd.
Police have seized the tipper truck bearing registration number OD 11 AE 6418 and the damaged motorcycle for investigation. The driver of the truck fled the scene immediately after the accident and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend him.
A case has been registered and further investigation is in progress, police said.
