Keonjhar: At least 8 persons were killed and eight others sustained critical injuries as the van in which they were travelling hit a truck on NH-20 near Balijodi in Odisha’s Keonjhar district, this morning.
While five of the injured ones were undergoing treatment at the District Headquarters Hospital, three victims were shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack as their condition deteriorated.
The deceased and the victims belong to Pudamari village in Ganjam district. As per reports, they were heading towards the Tarini Temple in Ghatagaon to have darshan of the deity. The ill-fated vehicle hit a stationary truck parked on roadside near Balijodi, around 3 km away from the temple.
The impact of the collision killed eight occupants of the van on the spot.
Though the reason behind the accident was yet to be ascertained, it is being suspected that poor visibility owing to foggy conditions might have led to the mishap.
Police have started investigation into the incident.
