Berhampur: Two persons died and another was critically injured after a speeding sand-laden Hyva truck rammed into a bamboo-loaded bullock cart near Pratapgiri village under Sanakhemundi block in Odisha’s Ganjam district late last night.
The deceased were identified as Biji alias Bijaya Gouda (55) and Natha Jena (60) of Pratapgiri village.
According to sources, the duo had gone to the nearby Ratanei forest to collect bamboo and were returning late at night when the mishap occurred near a sharp bend at Paika Jagannathpur-Pratapgiri village square.
Police said the sand-laden Hyva truck, coming at high speed from the opposite direction, crashed into the bullock cart around 1 am. The impact threw both men off the cart, causing grievous injuries. Both were rushed to Adapada Community Health Centre, where doctors declared Natha dead. Bijaya was later shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, but succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Patapur police seized the truck and the damaged cart and registered a case. The bodies were sent for postmortem and later handed over to the bereaved families.
The tragic deaths triggered an outpouring of grief in Pratapgiri village, where villagers gathered in large numbers for the final rites. One of the two bullocks pulling the cart also died in the accident, while the other sustained injuries.
