A devastating hit-and-run accident claimed the lives of three persons and left three others in critical condition near the approach road of the Joda flyover in Keonjhar district on Monday night.
The incident, which occurred around 9 PM, involved an unidentified vehicle that struck two motorcycles before fleeing the scene, sparking outrage among locals and highlighting ongoing safety concerns on the troubled flyover.
According to preliminary reports, the two motorcycles, bearing registration numbers OD 09 5789 and OD 09 G 7620, were carrying six individuals—three on each bike—travelling from Joda toward Barbil. Near the approach road of the Joda flyover, an unidentified vehicle collided with the bikes, killing three riders on the spot. The remaining three, who sustained severe injuries, were rushed to Tata Steel Hospital in Joda, where they are currently in critical condition. Sources indicate that the victims and injured are residents of the Bamebari police station area, though their identities have not yet been officially released.
The Joda police arrived at the scene shortly after the accident, but their presence was met with heightened tension as locals gathered to express their frustration. Residents blamed the recurring accidents on the flyover’s poor infrastructure, specifically pointing to the lack of functional streetlights and speed control measures. “The flyover is a death trap. There are no lights, no speed breakers—how can we feel safe?” said an agitated onlooker. The anger culminated in a road blockade, with over a hundred heavy vehicles stranded on both sides of the flyover for hours.
This is not the first such incident in the area. Just a few months ago, a similar hit-and-run near the flyover claimed the lives of two students and a parent heading to school, further fueling public discontent.
The situation was eventually brought under control after Barbil SDPO Debendranath Pingua and Joda IIC Sushant Pradhan intervened, pacifying the crowd and clearing the roadblock.
