The Odisha sports fraternity is in deep mourning following the tragic deaths of two budding athletes, Mrutyunjaya Jayaram Dandapat and Malaya Barik, in a road accident.
The fatal crash occurred late at night around 10:30 PM near Nakhara on the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar National Highway. Following the incident, both youths were rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where doctors declared them dead upon arrival.
Mrutyunjaya was a celebrated and talented runner who had established himself among the fastest Under-23 sprinters in the country, while Malaya was a promising 400-meter runner. Both athletes were undergoing elite training at the High Performance Centre inside Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
Known for their dedication and dreams of bringing glory to the state and the nation, their sudden passing leaves an irreparable void in Odisha's athletic community. The local sports fraternity has expressed profound grief over the immense loss.