Bhubaneswar, February 22 At least five police personnel were killed and four others were injured in a head-on collision between a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a truck on National Highway 49 in Jharsuguda district, Odisha, early Sunday morning, police said.
The accident occurred near Odisha Adarsh Vidyalaya in the Jharsuguda Sadar police station area when eight personnel were returning from a wedding in Jharsuguda, while the truck was travelling in the opposite direction, a senior police officer said.
"Five police personnel from the Jharsuguda district were killed in the accident, while two were seriously injured and are being treated at a private hospital in Bargarh. Another injured police officer is in stable condition," 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.
In addition, APR personnel Dubaraj Miriga and Akash Nayak, along with sergeant Rajib Bharsagar, were injured in the accident.
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.
Local MLA Tankadhar Tripathy visited the Jharsuguda hospital, where the bodies of the police personnel have been kept.