Berhampur/Jharsuguda: A labourer died and 17 passengers were injured in two mishaps in Ganjam and Jharsuguda districts – one Sunday night and Monday morning.
In one, 17 passengers of an OSRTC bus en route to Bhubaneswar from Berhampur were injured after the vehicle rammed a truck parked near a toll plaza at Khallikote on NH-16 in Ganjam district Monday morning. The condition of four among them was critical.
The injured have been admitted to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. All the injured belonged to Patapur and Digapahandi blocks in Ganjam district. The driver was sleepy when the mishap took place, eyewitnesses alleged.
In another accident, one person was killed and two others were critically injured after being mowed down by a truck at Chhualiberna under Belpahar Municipality in Jharsuguda district Sunday night. The truck, engaged in carrying sand from a dry pond for construction of the Manoharpur Odisha Power Generation Corporation railway lines, ran over the three who were fast asleep by the side of the pool.
While one Krushna Sahu died on the spot, the two injured, Rupadhar Rohidas and Dolamani Sahu have been admitted to VIMSAR in Burla. The driver of the truck absconded after the incident. Locals staged a road blockade on the spot demanding compensation for the family of the deceased.