Balangir: A pall of gloom descended on Malpada area of Balangir district as three friends died in a road mishap on Friendship Day.
The deceased were identified as Lalit Ranjan Kar, Achyut Bagarti and Rakesh Bag of Malpada in the district.
According to available information, the trio was returning from Sonepur to Balangir on a motorcycle when a speeding truck rammed into their vehicle near Satamail under Puintala block in Balangir district late on Saturday.
The driver of the truck fled the spot soon after the accident.
However, a few locals told police that the mishap took place due to recklessness of the truck driver.