A pilgrimage turns tragic, 10 dead

SAMBALPUR: Religious trip turned fatal for 21 members of three families after a coal-laden truck rammed the MUV in which they were travelling at Gurupali Chhak under Rengali police limits on State Highway 10, on Monday night.The accident left 10 persons dead while two among the injured, Mohammad Idu (35) and Sheikh Razak (18),  have been shifted to Ispat General Hospital at Rourkela where their condition was stated to the critical.The deceased have been identified as Sheikh Salim, his mother Saira Begum (46), wife Rehena Begum (27) and daughter Sahim Khatun (6), Mohammad Sohail (25), his wife Bibi Rizwana (22) and three-year old daughter Mehar, Ruby Begum (28), driver of the MUV Nasim Khan (32) besides another three-year-old Nazia Khatun.  While three died on the spot, the others succumbed to their injuries at VSS Medical in Burla. The injured include Sheikh Firoz (32), Sama Parveen (24), Nagina Thakur (23), Sheikh Jafar (4), Sama Khatun (3), Sheik Nawab (4), Sahiba Khatun (3) and Samia Parveen (3). They were discharged after medical attention at Rengali CHC. Reports said the three families from Gandhinagar in Belpahar left for Kanika in Hemgir block of Sundargarh on Monday morning to offer ‘Chadar’ at a Dargah on the occasion of Urs. Later, they left for sight seeing at Hirakud dam and after having dinner at a hotel, they started for Belpahar when the accident took place.Locals said the impact of the collision was such that it was impossible to make out the vehicle model. Even as the truck overturned, the  driver managed to flee.The story of the heart wrenching mishap did not end there. A couple of hours later, three persons were injured when their car hit the overturned truck. They were on their way to Beleimunda in Sundargarh from Rairakhol. The injured identified as Mohammad Rao Sheikh, Bablu and Bhiku have been admitted to VSS Medical.