Two persons, while coming by a motorcycle to village Sitanagar to convey the message of death of one of their relatives, died on the spot when their bike collided with a minibus loaded with passengers coming from backside on NH-5 near the Kali Temple Square under the Chamakhandi police station here on Sunday morning.
The minibus coming from Brahmapur to Chhatrapur dragged the victims for about 50 metres. The deceased were identified as Mitu Pradahn (24) of village Chasakanaman and Hadibandhu Majhi (24) of IRE Colony, Matikhalo of Chhatrapur.
Both the motorbike and the minibus were reduced to ashes as they caught fire caused by sparking after the accident. However, the bus passengers were safe. The bus driver and cleaner fled from the spot immediately after the mishap. Chamakhandi PS IIC Ashok Parida and a firefighting rescue team reached the spot and investigated the cause of the accident.