Bhadrak: A tragic early-morning road accident claimed the lives of a grandmother and her teenage granddaughter after a private ambulance carrying them crashed on National Highway 16 near Trishalpur Square in Odisha’s Bhadrak district.
The deceased have been identified as 50-year-old Malati Dandapath and her 17-year-old granddaughter, Khushi Guru, both residents of Kharagpur in West Bengal. The incident occurred around 3:15 am while the family was transporting Khushi, who was suffering from a severe pancreatic ailment, from Kharagpur to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Kataka for specialised treatment.
According to preliminary reports, the ambulance first rammed into the rear of a stationary SUV before crashing into a central road divider on the highway. The impact of the double collision caused severe damage to the ambulance, trapping the occupants inside the mangled vehicle. Local youths, along with personnel from the local fire services and the Bhadrak Rural Police, rushed to the site and rescued the trapped victims.
Both Malati and Khushi died on the spot.
Khushi’s parents, Baruna Guru and Shibanath Guru, sustained critical injuries during the collision. They were rushed to Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital, where they are currently receiving emergency medical treatment.
Bhadrak Rural Police have seized the vehicles involved and detained the ambulance driver for questioning. An investigation is underway to establish the precise cause of the crash.
In a separate incident on the same morning, a 108 emergency ambulance overturned near Jamdhar Square on Kataka-Chandbali road under the jurisdiction of Kendrapara Sadar police limits. The vehicle was returning to its base after dropping off a patient in Kataka when the driver reportedly lost control. Both the driver and an accompanying medical staff member sustained minor injuries.