Two engineering students died and five sustained critical injuries after a SUV collided head‑on with a truck near Chandaka on Bhubaneswar’s outskirts late Thursday night.
Seven passengers were inside the SUV when the vehicle struck the truck on the Chandaka‑Bhola stretch. The impact mangled the front portion of the SUV, trapping several occupants. Locals and commuters alerted police and emergency services immediately.
Fire services rushed to the scene and launched a major rescue operation. Rescuers used gas cutters to free passengers from the wreckage. The injured were shifted to Capital Hospital, where some remain in critical condition.
The rescue operation continued for hours due to the condition of the vehicle. Police and emergency teams stayed at the site until damaged vehicles were removed and traffic movement restored.
The late‑night accident triggered panic among locals and commuters. A crowd gathered at the site, and traffic was briefly disrupted during the rescue.
