Angul: Former Sundargarh MLA Jogesh Singh and four others had a providential escape when the vehicle, in which they were travelling, hit a roadside tree near Khandanali, about 15 km from Angul, late on Friday.
All the injured were given first aid at the district headquarters hospital in Angul and then shifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar, where their condition was stated to be stable.
According to sources, Singh along with three others, including the driver, was on his way to Bhubaneswar from Sundargarh when the driver lost control of the SUV which then skidded off the road and hit a tree near Khandanali on Mahidharpur-Athagarh road. Soon after the collision, thick smoke billowed out of the vehicle.
Some people, who were on their way home after attending a wedding, rushed to the vehicle and immediately brought out the four injured persons. Minutes later, a fire erupted in the vehicle and completely engulfed it.
The incident took place at around 3 AM.
Dr SC Patra of the district headquarters hospital, Angul, said that the former MLA sustained minor injuries on the eyelid, head and hand. Besides, the three other passengers— Tankadhar Bag, the driver, Pradip Kumar Sahu, owner of the vehicle, and Bikram Praharaj— also sustained minor injuries.
