Two pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh died while 23 others sustained injuries in a mishap on NH-5 near Sergarh in Balasore district in the wee hours on Thursday. The injured were admitted in the district headquarters hospital in critical condition.
The mishap occurred when the ill-fated bus in which they were traveling hit a truck from behind. The two who died on the spot have been identified as D Srinivash (35), and BSRK Mohan Rao (57) of Nidadavolu in West Godavari district.
A group of 55 pilgrims from Nidadavolu had started their journey on March 6. They traveled to Allahabad for holy dip at Mahakumbh mela and then Varanasi before visiting Bodh Gaya. The mishap occurred when they were heading towards Konark. They also had planned to visit Jagannath temple in Puri.
A pilgrim M Simu (42) said the ill-fated bus hit the paddy laden truck from behind when the latter used sudden break. “The two who were sitting on the front seat died on the spot,” he said.