Five killed as car plunges into pond in Odisha’s Dhenkanal after wedding event

Bhubaneswar, July 23 (IANS) As many as five youths lost their lives in a tragic road accident while returning home after attending a friend’s marriage function in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district during the early hours on Thursday.

According to police sources, the deceased have been identified as Rama Sahoo, Abinash Sahoo, Rakesh Sahoo and Chandrakanta Swain, all residents of Bangursingh village under Motanga police limits, and Abhijit Sahoo of Chainpurpatana village under Dhenkanal Sadar police limits.

Reports said the five victims, along with two other friends, had gone to attend a marriage function of a friend at Indipur village on Wednesday night. After the function, they were returning home in a car when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle at a sharp turn near Chhatia village.

The car veered off the road and plunged into a roadside pond. While two occupants managed to escape by getting out of the submerged vehicle, five others were trapped inside and could not be rescued in time, leading to their deaths.

The two survivors were later rescued by members of the groom’s party with the help of locals who had rushed to the spot. Upon being informed, the police team also immediately reached the spot and launched a rescue operation.

The bodies were retrieved from the water and sent to the Dhenkanal District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the circumstances leading to the mishap.

In another tragic incident, three persons, including a couple, lost their lives in a road accident in the Champua area of Odisha’s Kendujhar district late on Wednesday night.

According to reports, Trilochan Apat of Sijukala village suddenly fell ill on Wednesday night. His wife, son and brother were taking him to a nearby hospital in a car when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which rammed into a roadside tree.

Trilochan, his wife and brother died in the accident, while his son, Ranjit, sustained serious injuries and was admitted to hospital for treatment.

–IANS

grm/dpb