Tragedy struck on National Highway 59 near Charbhata in Titlagarh on Monday evening when an unidentified speeding vehicle mowed down a group of young cricket players returning home, killing two teenagers on the spot and leaving two others seriously injured.
The victims have been identified as Subu Kumbhar (18) of Sarguguda Madan Jal Chhak in Titlagarh town and Sagar Nag (17) of Belgam village. Both boys died instantly after being hit by the vehicle around 7 PM while walking back from a cricket match at the Charbhata playground.
According to eyewitnesses, the group of friends was crossing or walking along the highway when the unknown vehicle struck them at high speed and fled the scene without stopping. Local residents immediately rushed to the spot, alerted the police and ambulance services, but the two young lives could not be saved.
Titlagarh police reached the accident site, recovered the bodies, and shifted them to the government hospital mortuary for post-mortem. The two injured youths were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
A case has been registered, and an investigation into the hit-and-run is underway. Police have launched a search for the offending vehicle using CCTV footage and eyewitness descriptions.
In a show of solidarity, Titlagarh MLA Nabin Kumar Jain visited the hospital, inquired about the condition of the injured boys, and personally consoled the grieving family members of the deceased.
