Five Police Die in Odisha Highway Collision

Five police personnel died and three others suffered critical injuries early Sunday when their vehicle collided head-on with a trailer on National Highway 49 in Odisha's Jharsuguda district, authorities reported.

The accident occurred around 4 a.m. near the Sadar police station area, close to Odisha Adarsh Vidyalaya. The eight officers in the police Bolero were returning from a wedding in Jharsuguda when the trailer, traveling in the opposite direction, struck them. The impact mangled the police vehicle and caused the trailer to overturn, killing five personnel on the spot.

The deceased were identified as Armed Police Reserve personnel Kashiram Bhoi and Debadatta Sa, Drill Sub-Inspector Niranjan Kujur, APR Havildar Lingaraj Dhurua, and Home Guard Bhaktabandhu Mirdha. The three surviving officers, including two APR members and a sergeant, sustained grievous injuries and were rushed to Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital. Medical staff described their conditions as critical, with two under intensive care and the third in stable condition. The trailer's driver also sustained injuries and received treatment.

Senior police officials arrived at the scene shortly after the crash...