Tragic Accident in Odisha: Eight Dead as Minibus Collides with Parked Truck

Eight people from two families were killed and several others injured in a tragic accident in Keonjhar, Odisha. The incident occurred early on Friday morning when a minibus collided with a parked truck on NH-20 near Balijodi under Ghatagaon police station. The impact of the collision was so severe that the bodies of the deceased and the injured were scattered along the road.

According to Keonjhar SP Nitin Kushalkar, the families were on their way to Ghatagaon from Ganjam district to offer prayers at the Maa Tarini shrine when the accident happened. The front portion of the minibus was completely destroyed in the collision. The deceased have been identified as Mita Pradhan, her son Akash, daughter-in-law Lili, Bayakhand Gauda, Madan Gauda, Mamina Gauda, and Babina Gauda.

Tragically, this accident took place on the first day of the ‘Zero Fatality Week’, a campaign launched by the Odisha transport department to reduce road accident deaths. The incident highlights the urgent need for improved road safety measures in the state.

This is not the first incident of its kind in Odisha. Just last week, six labourers were killed and seven others injured after a cement-laden truck overturned in Malkangiri district. Road accidents continue to claim lives and cause serious injuries, underscoring the importance of stricter enforcement of traffic rules and better infrastructure.

In a separate incident, a 52-year-old man from Karnataka lost his life in a road accident in the Latur district of Maharashtra. The victim, Madhav Venkatarao Tarure, was crushed to death by an unidentified vehicle while riding his motorcycle. Tarure had been working as an agent in the Aurad Market Committee for the past 25 years.

These recent accidents serve as a stark reminder of the need for increased vigilance and safety precautions on the roads. Authorities must take immediate action to prevent such tragic incidents and protect the lives of innocent people.