Bhubaneswar, February 22 At least five police personnel were killed and four others were injured in a head-on collision between an SUV and a truck on NH-49 in Odisha's Jharsuguda district on Sunday, police said.
The accident occurred near Odisha Adarsh Vidyalaya in the Jharsuguda Sadar police station area, where eight personnel were returning from a wedding, while the truck was traveling in the opposite direction, a senior police officer said.
"Five police personnel from Jharsuguda district were killed in the accident, while two were seriously injured and are receiving treatment at a private hospital in Bargarh. The condition of the other injured police officer is stable," said Jharsuguda Additional Superintendent of Police Madhusikta Mishra.
The truck driver was also injured in the accident, and he is receiving treatment, she added.
"A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway," Mishra said.
The truck overturned after the collision, and the police vehicle was completely damaged in the accident, she added.
The deceased police personnel were identified as Kashiram Bhoi, Debadutta Sha, and Lingaraj Dharua from the armed police reserve, drill sub-inspector Niranjan Kujur, and home guard Bhaktabandhu Mirdha.
The injured personnel are Dubaraj Miriga and Akash Nayak, and sergeant Rajib Bharsagar.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan condoled the deaths and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured police personnel.
"I am deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn about the untimely demise of 5 dedicated police personnel in a tragic road accident that occurred in Jharsuguda. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families during this sorrowful time. Along with praying for the eternal peace of the departed souls, I pray to the Almighty for the swift recovery of others injured in the accident," Majhi wrote on X.
The chief minister has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of the five deceased police personnel. The compensation will be paid from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).
