Sambalpur: Driver of a mini truck was charred to death when his vehicle caught fire after colliding head-on with a coal-laden truck at Bada Kundesara under Jamankira police limits in Odisha’s Sambalpur district on Tuesday night.
The deceased has been identified as Ramji of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The helper of the mini truck has been admitted to district headquarters hospital in Sambalpur with severe injuries.
According to sources, the fire broke out in the engine of the mini truck, carrying pan masala, after the collision and its driver was burnt alive inside the vehicle. The coal-laden truck, en route to Sambalpur from Deogarh, was also almost reduced to ashes. Its driver fled the spot after the accident.
On being informed, police and fire Services personnel reached the spot and doused the flames. An investigation into the accident is underway, the sources added.
