Bhubaneswar, July 21: In a tragic incident during the holy month of Shravan, a Bol Bom devotee lost his life while several others sustained injuries in a road accident near Joda in Odisha’s Keonjhar district on Monday.

The mishap occurred on National Highway-520 within the Champua police limits when a speeding truck rammed into a pickup van carrying a group of devotees. The victims were traveling from Rourkela to the Murga Mahadev Temple in Keonjhar to offer Jalabhisheka on Shravan Sombar, a sacred Monday of the Hindu calendar dedicated to Lord Shiva.

After their rituals at Murga Mahadev, the group was en route to the revered Maa Tarini Temple in Ghatagaon for darshan when the accident took place. The impact of the collision was severe, leading to the death of one devotee on the spot and injuries to several others. The driver of the truck fled the scene immediately after the crash.

Champua police have registered a case and launched an investigation to trace the absconding truck driver. The deceased’s body has been sent for post-mortem examination. Further details will emerge following the autopsy and police probe.

Powered by Froala Editor