August 4
A major road accident occurred last night on Bolangir-Sonepur National Highway 57, close to Jhinki Pantheni, resulting in injuries to at least 20 individuals, with four suffering critical injuries. According to sources, a tragic incident occurred when a passenger van carrying 20 individuals was en route to Puri from Sagarapali village in the Sonepur district. The van was struck from behind by a speeding Hyva truck. The devastation was so intense that passengers found themselves trapped within, with many caught between mangled iron rods and broken seats.
As soon as the information came in, local police and fire services swiftly arrived at the scene. Firefighters employed gas cutters to breach the van, swiftly rescuing the injured passengers, many of whom were bleeding and in a state of shock. The victims were swiftly transported to the nearest hospital, while four individuals in critical condition were transferred to a facility for advanced care. Several women and at least four children are among those injured.
Witnesses painted a vivid picture of the scene, filled with anguish, as cries of pain reverberated along the shadowy stretch of the highway. The most startling detail is that the truck involved in the collision quickly left the scene right after the crash. Authorities have initiated an investigation, meticulously reviewing CCTV footage from nearby toll gates and highway surveillance systems in a bid to track down the fleeing vehicle and its driver.
