Odisha’s Noted Satirist Sarbagila Critically Injured In Accident

Puri: Noted satirist, writer and playwright Ratnakar Behera, popularly known as Sarbagila sustained serious injuries in a road accident.

Sarbagila was going to a relative’s house in Haripur on a two-wheeler when the mishap occurred at Jagannath Diha Sahi square near Pipili in Puri district on Tuesday.

Sources said, he had stopped to drink  water along the road when a mini truck hit him. His leg came under wheels of the truck. The truck driver fled the spot, locals said.

Locals rushed the 57-year-old writer to a nearby hospital in Pipili and he was later shifted to a hospital in Bhubaneswar. From the capital he was again shifted to a private hospital in Cuttack, where he currently undergoing treatment.

Doctors had to amputate one of his legs on Thursday.

Ratnakara is also an actor and director and many of his plays were staged at  various places of Odisha. He has also participated in several comedy programmes on television.

The truck driver was arrested.