Two killed in dumper crash in Dhenkanal district

Two workers died and another was injured when a dumper truck crashed into a road-roller in Rekula village, Dhenkanal district, late Monday night. The victims were identified as Khirod Sahu, 54, from Nua Rekula village, and Babuli Sabara, 47, from Ratab village in Deogarh district. Sahu died in a hospital in Bhubaneswar, while Sabara passed away in a local hospital in Kamakhyanagar. The injured worker, Biswanath Munda, is receiving treatment at a hospital in Dhenkanal. According to Kamakhyanagar Sub-Divisional Police Officer Gyana Ranjan Mishra, the dumper was speeding and struck the road-roller, crushing the workers against an electric pole. The driver of the dumper fled the scene after the accident. Mishra also noted that there were no barricades or warning signs at the construction site. He mentioned that another accident had occurred at the same location earlier that evening. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh for each family of the deceased and promised free medical care for the injured worker. In response to the incident, local residents blocked the Kamakhyanagar-Dhenkanal road. They demanded justice for the victims and action against the contractor for inadequate safety measures at the construction site. Police are now investigating the incident.