As many as five people lost their lives in two separate road accidents on National Highway 49 within a span of just a few hours on Sunday, leaving families shattered and commuters stranded for nearly three hours.
The first accident occurred around 1 PM near the Kuanar colony square. Two brothers riding a motorcycle on their way to their sister’s house were struck by an unidentified vehicle. The impact was so severe that both died on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Akshay Sarangi and Laxman Sarangi, residents of Kuanar village.
Barely two and a half hours later, tragedy struck again near the Mangala temple at Kanjipani Ghat. Three men from Kadakasada village under Bansapal block — Suresh Pradhan, Shankar Pradhan, and Dola Pradhan — were travelling on a motorcycle towards Jagmohanpur when a speeding truck (OD-09-B-3065) coming from the opposite direction collided head-on with them. All three succumbed to injuries at the scene.
Angry locals immediately blocked the highway, demanding immediate compensation and better road safety measures. Traffic came to a standstill on both sides of the busy national highway, with hundreds of vehicles stuck in a 3-hour-long jam.
Senior officials, including Bansapal Tahasildar Bikash Chandra Sahu, Sadar SDPO Sudarshan Gangoi, and police officers from multiple stations, rushed to the spot. After assurances of assistance from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, the protesters cleared the road around 7 PM, allowing traffic to resume.
The twin tragedies have once again highlighted the alarming safety conditions on NH-49, a route notorious for frequent accidents. Families of the victims are now left grappling with sudden loss, while questions are being raised about speeding vehicles and inadequate enforcement of traffic rules in the region.
