Berhampur: A road accident on Tuesday afternoon claimed the lives of two young men in Ganjam district when their motorcycle collided with an oncoming stone-laden tractor.
The deceased were identified as Tofan Gouda, 25, and Sumit Kumar Panda, 26, both residents of Palajhadi village under Chasa Nimakhandi panchayat.
According to sources, Tofan and Sumit were returning home on a motorcycle after finishing some work in Digapahandi when the collision occurred on the main road near Bhushunda village, close to the Digapahandi-Ghodahada dam area, leaving both riders with severe injuries. They were rushed to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Digapahandi, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.
Digapahandi Police have seized both the motorcycle and the tractor, and also arrested the tractor driver, who had fled the scene after the crash. The bodies of the two youths have been sent to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for postmortem. Further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.