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A deadly road accident on Sunday left one student dead and 20 others injured after a pick-up van carrying them to a Republic Day function overturned near Anshupa Lake in Cuttack district. The students, from Malaviharapur High School, had been en route to the Saranda Parade Ground after attending a flag-hoisting ceremony at their own school.
The deceased has been identified as 16-year-old Soumya Ranjan Behera. Approximately 25 students were travelling in the van when the tragic incident occurred. District Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde confirmed that the van overturned, leading to the casualties.
“The injured students were initially taken to Athagarh Hospital, where one student succumbed to their injuries. The more seriously injured students were later transferred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack,” said Superintendent of Police (Cuttack-Rural) Prateek Singh.
“Strong action will be taken against those found responsible,” Singh added.
“You have brought immense glory to India and have inspired millions of young athletes to pursue their dreams,” Mandaviya was quoted as saying in a media release.
However, not everyone from the team flew back home as PR Sreejesh stayed back in the French capital for the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
In a statement, District Education Officer Santosh Kumar Rout criticised the decision of the school’s headmaster to send the students in a pick-up van. The School and Mass Education Department subsequently suspended the headmaster and ordered a collector-level inquiry into the incident.
School and Mass Education Department Secretary Shalini Pandit visited the injured students at SCB Medical College and Hospital. The department also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the family of the deceased and Rs 30,000 for each injured student.
Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, offering his condolences to the bereaved family. He also announced an additional ex gratia of Rs 3 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the deceased’s family. Majhi assured that all injured students would receive the best medical care.
In light of the incident, the School and Mass Education Department issued a directive to schools across the state, instructing them to implement measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
(With PTI inputs)megapanalo