Two Killed, Five Injured as Speeding Dumper Rams Rescuers, Media Personnel in Mayurbhanj
Baripada, July 5 (UDN): Two persons were killed and five others, including three television camerapersons, sustained grievous injuries after a speeding dumper truck rammed into a group of rescuers and media personnel at an accident site in the Palbani area of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district late Friday night.
According to police, the tragedy unfolded after a timber-laden truck overturned on the roadside near Palbani, prompting local residents, police personnel, forest officials and journalists to rush to the spot to assist in the rescue operation and regulate traffic.
While the rescue work was in progress, a dumper truck, allegedly travelling at high speed, lost control, mounted the overturned vehicle and crashed into the gathering, causing panic and leaving several people trapped under the vehicle.
Two persons died on the spot, while five others suffered serious injuries. Three of the injured are television camerapersons covering the incident. One of them, identified as Lalit Barik, sustained critical injuries and was initially admitted to Pandit Raghunath Murmu (PRM) Medical College and Hospital in Baripada before being shifted to a hospital in Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. The remaining injured are undergoing treatment at the Baripada medical college.
The identities of the deceased were yet to be officially confirmed till the filing of this report.
Police have seized the dumper involved in the incident and launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances that led to the crash. Senior district officials visited the accident site and reviewed the rescue and relief measures.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the district, particularly among the media fraternity, as journalists covering the earlier accident became victims of the second mishap. Authorities are investigating whether overspeeding, negligence or poor visibility contributed to the fatal collision.