Odisha accident: 20 killed, 25 injured as tractor plunges into gorge

Rayagada, Odisha: At least 20 people were killed and 25 injured, 12 of them seriously, when a tractor carrying a marriage party fell into a gorge in Rayagada district today, police said.

The incident took place in a remote area between Uppar Anchal Bari and Hataguma when the tractor, carrying about 60 people from Hiranpadu village, plunged into gorge after one of its front wheels broke on a hill top.

The victims, including women and children, were returning home at Hiranpadu village after attending a wedding at Seriguma village when the accident occurred, Rayagada superitendent of police Rajesh Pandit said.

“So far, we have information regarding death of 20 persons but the bodies are yet to be identified,” said Tapan Mohanty, inspector in-charge of Rayagada Police Station.

All the injured persons were taken to Rayagada district headquarters hospital.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced medical expenses of the injured would be given from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and State Treatment Fund.

He directed the district collector of Rayagada to shift seriously injured persons to a nearby hospital at Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

“The district administration has decided to refer three of them to a hospital at Vishakhapatnam,” said Sashi Bhusan Padhi, Rayagada district collector.

PTI