Eight people, including three women and a child, were killed and several others injured after a vehicle carrying 20 individuals hit a stationary truck on National Highway 20 near Balijodi village in Ghatagon area, Keonjhar district, on Friday.
The group from Pudamari village was on their way to have darshan of Goddess Tarini, police said. It is suspected that the driver may have dozed off, leading to the collision that took place barely three kilometres away from the temple, PTI reported.
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While seven people died on the spot, another victim succumbed at a nearby hospital. Five other injured were transported to the Keonjhar district headquarters hospital. Three others were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for advanced medical care as their condition deteriorated.
The authorities have started an investigation into the accident to ascertain the circumstances leading to the collision.
(With inputs from PTI)