8 Killed As Mini-Truck Falls Off Poiguda Ghat In Kandhamal

Baliguda: Eight people were killed and more than 35 seriously injured when a mini-truck in which they were travelling fell off the Poiguda ghat near Baliguda in Odisha’s Kandhamal district on Tuesday morning.

According to sources, about 50-60 people of Suluma area were on the way to Brahmanigan village to participate in the audition in a church when the driver lost control over the vehicle, which fell off the Poiguda ghat.

While eight people died on the spot, more than 35 people were seriously injured. The deceased belong to Kalingi, Tarjengi and Gadapur villages.

Following the incident, the Brahmanigan police, forest Staff and the people of nearby villages rushed to the spot and began to rescue the injured.

Till reports last came in, 25 injured had been shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. Besides, the remaining people who sustained minor injuries have been admitted to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Brahmanigan.

The incident took place between 9.30 am and 10 am.

Sources said the mini-truck fell from a height of about 50-60 feet.

Meanwhile, Kandhamal collector and SP have rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. A team of doctors from the district headquarters hospital has also left for the mishap site to provide emergency treatment to the injured. Besides, a team of Fire Services personnel from Daringbadi has arrived at the spot to rescue the injured passengers, the sources said, adding that efforts are on to bring out the scattered bodies of the eight deceased.

Five ambulance vans have been engaged to shift the seriously injured people to the MKCG.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver lost control when the truck suddenly had a technical snag while moving along the steep ghat road. As a result, the brake of the vehicle failed and it fell off the ghat, the sources added.