Early morning collision claims seven lives in Odisha's Sundargarh

Bhubaneswar, Nov 2: In a devastating accident on Saturday in the Gaikanapali area of Odisha’s Sundargarh district, at least seven individuals lost their lives, and four others suffered serious injuries when their van collided with a parked trailer. Initial reports indicate that the incident occurred during the early hours near Bileimunda, within the Hemgir police station jurisdiction.

The victims were part of a ten-member kirtan group from Kandadhuda, Samarpinda, who had traveled to Chakabahal in Chhattisgarh for a Shradh ritual. As they returned home, their van struck the stationary trailer from behind.

Six people, including the driver, died at the scene, while four others were taken to Hemgir hospital, where one later died from their injuries. The identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed. Although the cause of the accident remains unclear, authorities suspect that fog may have obscured the driver’s visibility, contributing to the crash.