Sambalpur: The driver of a container truck was reportedly burnt alive as the vehicle caught fire following a collision with another truck in Odisha’s Sambalpur district on Sunday.
According to sources, the container truck, going on National Highway 53, collided with the truck head-on at around 7 pm. The accident took place near Kadalipala under Jamankira police station of the district.
On the impact of the collision, the container truck caught fire. Its driver, identified as Rehman Khan, and helper struggled to come out of the vehicle which was badly damaged.
Meanwhile, the fire spread rapidly and engulfed the entire driver’s cabin. While Rehman was burnt alive, the helper managed to come out of the vehicle with serious burn injuries.
The police with the help of locals rushed the helper to the District Headquarters Hospital in Sambalpur.
As the burning truck blocked the road, the vehicular movement on the Mational Highway was affected. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the road for a long time even as Fire services personnel were busy extinguishing the fire.