Bhubaneswar: In a tragic series of road mishaps across Odisha on Sunday, three people lost their lives, and more than 13 sustained severe injuries, underscoring growing concerns about road safety in the state.In Paradip’s Atharbanki, Mahendra Jena, a fish vendor, was killed when a speeding truck ran over him. Jena, who was on a bicycle heading to sell fish on the occasion of ‘Chhadakhai,’ was fatally struck, leading to outrage among locals. Residents staged a road blockade, demanding restrictions on heavy vehicle movement in the area and compensation for the victim’s family.Another fatality occurred in Balasore when Kanhu Pradhan, a young man returning home from work, was hit by an unidentified vehicle near Indira Square in Basta. The vehicle fled the scene after the incident on National Highway 16. Police have recovered the body and initiated efforts to trace the absconding vehicle.The third incident claimed the life of a female tourist, Sarojini Behera, and left over 13 others injured when their vehicle overturned at Kendughati in Gajapati district under Mohana police limits. The group, traveling from Bhubaneswar to Koraput’s Gupteswar, reportedly faced the accident due to reckless driving.The injured passengers were initially rushed to the Mohana Community Health Centre (CHC), with two critically injured individuals later transferred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for advanced treatment.The ill-fated vehicle was carrying 15 people, including the driver, at the time of the accident. Injured passengers cited rash driving as the cause.These incidents have once again drawn attention to the alarming rise in road accidents in Odisha. Authorities and citizens alike are calling for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and improved road safety measures to prevent such tragedies.
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