Bhubaneswar, May 14 – A tragic road accident claimed the lives of two women and left 14 others injured after an overloaded auto-rickshaw overturned in Odisha’s Ganjam district, police said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred late Tuesday night on the Bhetnai-Badakholi road in the Kotinada area. According to officials, the vehicle was carrying 20 passengers who were returning from a religious event when it lost balance and overturned.
The deceased have been identified as Gayatri Gouda, 25, and Sarojini Sahu, 50, both residents of Bhetnai village.
Seven of the injured were reported to be in critical condition and were referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for advanced treatment, a police officer confirmed.
Authorities have sent the bodies for post-mortem examination and launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.
The mishap has raised concerns over the dangers of overloading and road safety in the region.
