Death Stalks Odisha Youths Returning Home From Puri

Balasore/Boudh: Two youths have died in as many days while returning to their homes from Puri.

In the first case, a young man was killed on the spot when he rammed his car into a stationary trawler on NH-57 in Boudh district on Saturday morning.

Ironically, the incident happened just after the deceased, Arun Meher, was driving back home to Sonepur district following the funeral of his father in Puri.

Also Read: Youth Killed Just After Father’s Funeral In Odisha

This is a clear case of road fatality, but mystery surrounds the death of another youth. The youth, Mantu Patra, died while returning home to Balasore district from Puri with some friends on Friday evening.

While Mantu’s family suspect foul play, the deceased’s friends claimed he suddenly became unconscious and died.

“We parked the car on the roadside and went to have tea at Nimalapala near Nilgiri. He refused to accompany us saying that he was feeling unwell and asked for water. I drew water from a tubewell and left after handing over the bottle to him. When we returned and tried to wake him up, he did not respond,” said Ranjan Parida, one of Mantu’s friend who accompanied him to Puri.

Mantu’s friend took him to a nearby private clinic and later rushed him to Nilgiri hospital. However, doctors at the hospital declared him brought dead.

On the other hand, Mantu’s family members said he was fit and healthy and held his friends are responsible for his death.

The deceased’s elder brother, Amit Kumar Patra, alleged, “His friends took him for a marriage feast in a nearby village on Tuesday. A couple of hours later, they called us over phone and said they were going to Puri for a trip. Since then, his phone has been switched off.

“Yesterday around 5 pm, my brother’s friends called me and said he had died after suffering a heart attack. I told them to take him to a hospital and let the doctors confirm what has exactly happened. They even waited for over three hours to admit him to a hospital,” he added.