At least four people were killed and another one was critically injured when an oil tanker exploded after falling off the Bada Pandusara bridge at Itamati in Nayagarh district in the wee hours of Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Pankaj Nayaj, Dipu Khatua, Samir Nayak and Chandan Khatua. All of them were local residents.
The injured was initially admitted to a hospital in Nayagarh and later shifted to Bhubaneswar.
As per reports, the tanker was coming from Paradip at around 1.45 am when the driver lost control over the wheels and the vehicle hit the wall of the bridge and plunged below it.
Soon after the mishap, some locals rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. While the operation was underway, the tanker which was fully loaded with oil exploded. Four local people involved in the rescue operation were charred to death.
Another person was seriously injured in the explosion. He was rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital. Later he was shifted to A hospital in Bhubaneswar as his condition deteriorated.
Getting information, police and fire service personnel reached the spot and started rescue operations. A pal of gloom descended the area after the incident.