Four persons were killed and nine others injured when the van in which they were to travel was hit by a truck on NH-55 at Maratira Square near here on Sunday morning.
While one died on the spot, two succumbed while being taken to Angul Hospital. The fourth person died on way to SCB Medical in Cuttack. Both the deceased and injured were occupants of the van by most of them were vegetable vendors and farmers.
Of the nine injured, five were shifted to SCB Medical in Cuttack after their condition deteriorated.
Sources said Sunday being the weekly market day at Angul town, many vegetable vendors and farmers from Maratira go to Angul to sell vegetables. On Sunday morning, while they were on board the van to go to Angul market when a speeding cement laden 10-wheeler truck hit the vehicle from behind.
Driver of the van, Debraj Sahu, died on the spot. The three other deceased were Rajeev Sahu, Kurti Sahu and Dhruba Charan Sahu.
Following the incident, irate locals blocked the NH linking Angul to Sambalpur demanding cash compensation for the deceased and the injured.
The agitators were pacified after police rushed to the spot and assured to arrange for funds from the kin of the deceased from the Red Cross funds.