A somber atmosphere has gripped Balasore following a fatal collision on National Highway 16 near Khantapada. On Friday, a speeding Thar reportedly crashed into the back of an auto-rickshaw carrying a family from Basubarhampur village.
The impact was devastating. Six family members sustained severe injuries and were rushed to Khantapada Hospital. Heartbreakingly, doctors declared a 3-year-old girl dead upon arrival.
The remaining five victims, currently in critical condition, have been shifted to Balasore Medical College for urgent treatment.
Local authorities have arrived at the scene near Khushi Hotel to seize both the mangled auto and the thar involved.
As an investigation into the high-speed crash begins, the incident has sparked grief and outcry over road safety and the accountability of speeding vehicles on the highway.