Bhubaneswar: A deeply distressing tragedy unfolded in Odisha’s Nayagarh district on Diwali evening as three persons were killed and another critically injured after an ambulance carrying a dead body crashed into the wall of a culvert.
The mishap took place at around 5.30 pm near Shalabhanga forest on NH-57 under the jurisdiction of Banigochha police station.
According to reports, the ill-fated ambulance was transporting the body of one Iswar Sahu of Deogaon village area in Tikrapada gram panchayat of Balangir district after he passed away in a Bhubaneswar hospital.
Some of Sahu’s relatives were on the ambulance, which was travelling at high speed when the driver lost control and crashed into the roadside culvert wall.
Everyone in the ambulance, including the driver, sustained serious injuries.
Police rushed to the spot on receiving information about the accident, and brought out the injured persons from the ambulance before shifting them to Daspalla community health Centre (CHC) for treatment.
Three persons, including Pratap Bag and Shirsha Bag, succumbed to the injuries while undergoing treatment. Raju, son of deceased Ishwar Sahu, is learnt to be in critical condition.
An investigation has been initiated to ascertain the exact cause of the crash.