Kendujhar: A desperate late-night rush to save an ailing relative turned into a devastating tragedy on Wednesday when a Mahindra Thar lost control and slammed into a roadside mango tree along National Highway 20 in Odisha’s Kendujhar district, leaving three members of a family dead and another fighting for his life.
The accident took place around 10 pm when Trilochan Apat, a resident of the area, developed severe stomach pain and fell critically ill. In a bid to get him urgent medical assistance, his family rushed him toward the Champua Sub-Divisional Hospital in their SUV. Driven by his son, Ranjit Apat, the vehicle was also carrying Trilochan’s wife, Kaiphula, and his brother, Bhaskar.
Navigating through heavy rainfall, slippery road conditions, and the high speeds brought on by the medical emergency, the driver lost control of the vehicle near Rajia in Champua area. The SUV veered off the highway and crashed into a mango tree. The sheer force of the impact crushed the front of the vehicle, trapping the occupants inside the mangled wreckage.
Local residents and Fire Services personnel launched a rescue operation, managing to extricate the trapped family members from the car. Trilochan’s brother, Bhaskar, died on the spot due to the severity of the impact. The remaining three victims were rushed to the Champua hospital. Due to the critical nature of their injuries, doctors recommended transferring them to Kendujhar District Headquarters Hospital for advanced care. Tragically, both Trilochan and his wife, Kaiphula, succumbed to their injuries while being shifted.
The couple’s son, Ranjit, who sustained severe injuries, was stabilised and remains under medical treatment.
Meanwhile, Champua police have seized the damaged vehicle, and launched an investigation into the accident with preliminary findings pointing to a combination of heavy rain and high speed as the likely causes.