A pall of gloom has descended over the Odisha Police fraternity after a tragic road accident in the early hours of Sunday claimed the lives of five police personnel and left three others critically injured.
The fatal collision occurred directly in front of the Jharsuguda Sadar Police Station, sending shockwaves across the district.
Head-On Collision with Speeding Trailer
According to eyewitnesses and preliminary police reports, a police Bolero carrying eight personnel was struck head-on by a speeding trailer lorry coming from the opposite direction.
The impact was so severe that the Bolero was reduced to a mangled heap of metal. Local residents, awakened by the loud crash, rushed to the accident site along with officers from the nearby police station to initiate rescue efforts.
Emergency services quickly transported the injured to hospital as the scale of the tragedy became clear.
The Fallen Officers
Authorities have confirmed the identities of the five personnel who lost their lives:
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Niranjan Kujur (Drill Sub-Inspector)
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Lingaraj Dhurua (APR Havildar)
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Kashiram Bhoi (APR)
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Debadutta Sa (APR)
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Bhaktabandhu Mirdha (Home Guard)
Their untimely demise has left colleagues, families, and the wider community in deep mourning.
Three Officers Critically Injured
Three other personnel sustained life-threatening injuries in the crash:
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Sergeant Rajeev Bharasagar
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Dubraj Mirig (APR)
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Akash Naik (APR)
They were rushed to the Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital, where they remain under intensive medical supervision.
Senior Officials Visit Site and Hospital
Senior district officials, including the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police, visited both the accident site and the hospital shortly after the incident. They oversaw rescue operations, reviewed the situation, and extended support to the bereaved families.
The driver of the trailer has reportedly been detained, and the heavy vehicle has been seized for further investigation.
Probe Points to Reckless Driving
Preliminary findings suggest that reckless driving by the trailer operator may have caused the collision. A detailed investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the fatal crash.
The heartbreaking loss of five dedicated officers—who were serving on the front lines of public safety—has plunged Jharsuguda district and the entire Odisha Police force into profound grief.