A tragic road incident on National Highway 20 near Ghatagaon in Keonjhar district of Odisha resulted in the death of eight individuals, including three women, while 12 others sustained serious injuries. The victims, hailing from four villages in Ganjam district, were en route to the Tarini Temple in a Tata Winger van. The vehicle collided with a parked cement-laden truck, causing seven immediate fatalities, with one more child succumbing to injuries later.
The accused van driver, responsible for the rash and reckless driving, reportedly fled the scene but later surrendered to the police. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief and announced compensation of Rs 3 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s relief fund for the families of the deceased. The Chief Minister directed hospitals to provide adequate treatment to the injured, emphasizing the need for road safety during the ongoing ‘Zero Fatality Week.’