JAJPUR: Five persons died and one was injured in the SUV-truck collision on Tuesday morning on NH-5 near Saoi village.
The deceased, all travelling in SUV, have been identified as Bhagyadhar Majhi (25), Akshaya Majhi (29) of Pipala Bahala, Swapneswar Dehury (27), Bhajamana Dehury (28) and Bhagirathi Pradhan (19), belonging to Khajiramunda under Chhendipada police limits in Angul district.
They were on their way to Chhenipada in Angul district from Bhadrak.
Sources said the truck was coming in the wrong direction and hit the SUV killing two of the occupants on the spot. Of the four others who were rushed to the local government hospital, two were declared brought dead. One of the two other injured, while being shifted to the SCB Medical, Cuttack, succumbed mid-way. Condition of another is critical.
Dharmasala police station IIC Suvendu Kumar Sinha said efforts are on to nab the driver and helper of the truck who managed to flee after the mishap. Both the vehicles have been seized. A case has been registered