Balangir: While the whole world is in a festive mood on the auspicious occasion of Friendship Day, tragedy struck three friends who were killed in a road mishap near Satmaile in Puintala block of this district.
An unidentified vehicle hit the three youths and fled, leaving them profusely in a pool of blood, eventually leading to their deaths with no help late Saturday night.
The incident occurred while the three youths on a motorbike were on their way to Balangir from Sonepur.
The deceased have been identified as Lalit Ranjan Kar (23), Achyut Bagarti (22) and Rakesh Bag (23) of Malpada area. A pall of gloom descended upon the village as three youths lost their lives on a Friendship day.
According to sources, the three friends on a motorbike had gone to a ‘dhaba’ for party to mark their Friendship. After having fun and eating food in the eatery, the trio set off back to their homes on ‘Avenger’ vehicle. While on their way back home, an unidentified vehicle hit the trio and fled, police suspect.
After getting information, Paintula police rescued the three and rushed them to Bolangir district headquarters hospital (DHH). However, the doctors declared them brought dead upon arrival.
The bodies were sent for autopsy and later handed over to family members for last rites. The tragedy struck the whole village as the final rites was conducted Sunday afternoon.
“They were very close friends and often went around together. We cannot believe that they are no more with us,” said one of their friends.
Based on a complaint by the victim family members, police registered a case and launched a probe to trace the vehicle.
PNN