Bhubaneswar, May 14: In a tragic incident, two women lost their lives and 14 others sustained injuries after an overloaded auto-rickshaw overturned on the Bhetnai-Bhejiput Road under Kotinada police limits in Ganjam district on Wednesday.

The deceased have been identified as Gayatri Gouda (25) and Sarojini Sahu (50), both hailing from Bhetnai village. According to eyewitness accounts, over 20 villagers had travelled in the vehicle to attend a religious ceremony in nearby Sanakholi village. The mishap occurred while they were returning home. The vehicle, reportedly carrying far more passengers than its capacity, lost balance and overturned on the narrow rural road.

Following the accident, local residents and police personnel rushed to the spot. The police promptly launched a rescue operation and managed to pull out those trapped under the vehicle. All injured passengers were initially taken to Aska hospital for treatment. However, the condition of seven among them worsened, prompting their referral to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.

The bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem, and police have initiated an investigation into the exact cause of the accident.

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