A tragic head-on collision between two trucks on National Highway 520 resulted in the deaths of both drivers on Saturday. The accident occurred near Kundurupani Chowk at Chunaghati in Odisha's Sundargarh district.
Severe Impact and Prolonged Rescue Effort
The force of the crash was extreme, causing both heavy vehicles to overturn completely. The drivers were trapped inside the mangled cabins, necessitating a complex rescue operation. It took rescue teams approximately four hours to extricate the bodies from the wreckage. Personnel from the K Balang police station and fire services rushed to the spot upon receiving the alert.
Rescue workers were forced to use gas cutters to cut through the twisted metal of the trucks to reach the victims. The accident caused a major disruption, with traffic on both sides of NH-520 remaining stranded for several hours as authorities worked at the scene.
Details of the Crash and Victims
Preliminary information from the police suggests that an iron ore-laden truck, coming from the Koida side, allegedly lost control while descending the Chuna Ghati slope. Initial reports indicate the likely cause was a brake failure. The truck crossed the road divider and crashed directly into an oncoming coal truck that was travelling towards Koida.
The impact was so powerful that the mineral loads carried by both vehicles were scattered across the highway. The deceased have been identified as Manas Lohar, a 25-year-old from Keonjhar district, and Satvant Kumar Gautam, aged 38, a resident of Uttar Pradesh.
Police Investigation and Aftermath
The families of both drivers have been informed about the tragic incident. The bodies will be handed over to them after the completion of the post-mortem examination. Inspector in-charge K C Patra of K Balang police station confirmed that a case has been registered.
"We have registered a case and launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the collision," stated Inspector Patra. The probe will look into all factors, including the condition of the vehicles and the road, to determine the sequence of events that led to this fatal accident.
