Dhenkanal: At least two persons were killed and four others critically injured after a tractor carrying them overturned in Bhuban area of Odisha’s Dhenkanal district on Thursday. A pall gloom descended in the area following the tragic incident.
The injured were admitted to Bhuban hospital.
According to sources, six people of Pratappur village under Bhuban police station limits were going on a tractor to a nearby forest to collect branches to be used for the roof cover of a religious programme in the village.
On way back home, the tractor overturned on NH-53 near Pandapokhari. Two of the people died on the spot while four others were critically injured. One of the deceased was identified as Prafulla Kumar Samal.
The critically injured – Umashnakar Rout(14), Satyajit Puhan(15), Jaladhar Swain (65) and Ajay Mohanty(14) — were rushed to Bhuban hospital.
The incident triggered tension in the area. Meanwhile, police from Pratappur outpost seized the tractor and detained the driver. An investigation into the mishap is underway, police said.