Bhubaneswar: Eight members of a family in the Mancheswar area had a miraculous escape early Thursday after a speeding SUV veered off the road and rammed into their house, damaging two parked motorcycles inside.
The crash occurred around 12:30 am, jolting the family awake. "We were asleep in two rooms when a deafening noise shook the house. We rushed out and saw the SUV barely a few feet away. It was terrifying," said Madan Mohan, a family member.
Among the survivors was a 14-day-old infant. "It was sheer luck. My newborn boy was sleeping just metres away from the place of impact. We shudder to think what could have happened," Mohan, the child's father, said, pointing to the damaged wall and debris scattered across the courtyard.
Police detained the driver on charges of rash driving. "We are questioning him to ascertain whether he was intoxicated or simply negligent. A medical examination is being conducted," said a Mancheswar police officer.
The incident has reignited concerns over reckless driving in the capital. "This is the second major SUV crash in three days. On June 15, three pedestrians were killed near Press Chowk in Gajapati Nagar. Unless stricter enforcement is ensured, Bhubaneswar's roads will remain unsafe," said Ramesh Nayak, a local resident.
Neighbours gathered at the site soon after the crash, demanding accountability. "Families cannot feel safe even inside their homes. Vehicles are turning into weapons on our streets," said another resident.
The family, though relieved to be alive, expressed anguish over the damage. "Our house is damaged. Repairing it will cost us dearly. We hope authorities take action so no one else faces such horror," said Sarita Swain, a relative.
This is not the first time Bhubaneswar has witnessed such a close call. On February 9, two families living in shanties under the Sishu Bhawan overbridge narrowly survived when a car fleeing a murder scene plunged nearly 20 feet and landed next to their homes.
