Eight People Killed in Minibus-Truck Collision in Odisha’s Keonjhar; Victims Identified as Mita Pradhan, Akash, Lili, Bayakhand Gauda, Madan Gauda, Mamina Gauda, Babina Gauda

Accident – Death – Obituary News : UPDATED: December 1, 2023, 12:53 IST

Tragic Accident in Odisha Leaves Eight Dead and Multiple Injured

In a devastating incident that occurred in Keonjhar, Odisha, a minibus collided into a parked truck in the early hours of Friday morning, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals from two families. Several others sustained injuries in the accident, with the impact being so severe that the bodies of the deceased and the injured were strewn across the road.

The collision took place on NH-20 near Balijodi, under the jurisdiction of the Ghatagaon police station. According to reports, the two families were en route to Ghatagaon from Ganjam district to offer prayers at the revered Maa Tarini shrine when their minibus crashed into the truck. The front portion of the minibus was completely destroyed in the collision, indicating the intensity of the accident.

The victims have been identified as Mita Pradhan, her son Akash, and daughter-in-law Lili from one family, while members of the other family were identified as Bayakhand Gauda, Madan Gauda, Mamina Gauda, and Babina Gauda.

What makes this tragedy even more poignant is the fact that it occurred on the first day of the ‘Zero Fatality Week’, a campaign launched by the Odisha transport department to address and reduce the number of deaths caused by road accidents. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in ensuring road safety.

This accident follows a similar incident that took place in Odisha’s Malkangiri district last week, where six laborers lost their lives, and seven others sustained injuries after a truck transporting cement overturned.

In yet another unfortunate incident, a 52-year-old man from Karnataka was crushed to death by an unidentified vehicle in Latur district, Maharashtra. The victim, identified as Madhav Venkatarao Tarure, was riding a motorcycle when the tragic accident occurred. Tarure, a resident of Kotmal village, had been working as an agent in the Aurad Market Committee in the Bidar district for the past 25 years.

Road accidents continue to be a major concern across India, with numerous lives lost and families devastated by these untimely and preventable tragedies. Authorities and individuals alike must remain vigilant and prioritize road safety measures to minimize such incidents and ensure the well-being of all road users.

The investigation into the Keonjhar accident is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the cause of the collision and hold any responsible parties accountable.

[Author bio: Pragati Pal is a Sub-Editor at News18.com, specializing in general and national news. Follow her @PragatiPal6. Read More]

Note: This article has been updated to provide additional details and depth. The information presented is based on the available reports and may be subject to change as the investigation progresses..