Keonjhar: Five men were killed in two separate road accidents on NH-49 under the Kanjipani police station in Keonjhar district on Sunday.
First Accident: Brothers Killed in Hit-and-Run
Police said brothers Laxman Sanangi and Akshaya Sanangi, aged between 18 and 20, from Kuanr village under Banspal block, went on a Raja tour on a bike. Around 1 pm, they were returning home from Bayapandar when an unknown line truck hit them and fled. They were killed on the spot. On being alerted, Kanjipani police reached the spot, recovered the bodies, and sent them to Keonjhar district headquarters hospital for post-mortem. Police seized the bike and started an investigation to track the erring vehicle. The bike was completely wrecked.
Second Accident: Three Killed in Wrong-Lane Collision
Even as the police were trying to identify the truck that caused the first accident, another accident occurred near Mangalamandir, about 200 metres from the first accident site. Sources said a line truck was coming in the wrong lane and hit a bike coming from the opposite direction, killing its riders on the spot. They were identified as Suresh Pradhan, Sankar Pradhan, and Dola Pradhan, all in their 20s, from Pada Kasada village in Banspal block. They were going to their sister's house for the Raja festival.
Road Blockade and Police Response
Local villagers rushed to the spot and blocked the road, demanding compensation and security. The road remained blocked until evening, and hundreds of line trucks, trailers, and buses were stuck on both flanks of NH-49. Police reached the spot, discussed the matter with the protesters, and removed the bodies to the district headquarters hospital for autopsy. The police seized the errant truck. The investigation is ongoing.
Keonjhar SDPO Sudarshan Gangoi said normal traffic was restored after negotiations with those who were blocking the road. The bodies were sent to the district headquarters medical unit for post-mortem.
One of the mangled bikes was seized as evidence.
