Four killed after fuel tanker falls into river, explodes in Nayagarh

Police officials said the diesel-laden tanker was on its way from the Indian Oil refinery at Paradip to Pichukuli of Nayagarh district when the driver lost control of the vehicle at a bridge in the Badapandusar area at 1.45 am.

Updated on: Jun 12, 2022, 06:46:19 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty, Bhubaneswar

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Four persons were charred to death and another person severely wounded after a diesel-laden fuel tanker plunged into a river and exploded in Nayagarh district of Odisha late Friday night, police said.

Police officials said the diesel-laden tanker was on its way from the Indian Oil refinery at Paradip to Pichukuli of Nayagarh district when the driver lost control of the vehicle at a bridge in the Badapandusar area at 1.45 am.

“As soon as the tanker landed in the waters of Kusumi river, it exploded, charring the driver and helper. Three local youths who rushed to rescue the driver and helper were also seriously burnt. Two of them died in a local hospital,” said Itamati police station sub-inspector Ramesh Debata.

The deceased were identified as driver Pankaj Nayak, helper Sameer Nayak, Dipu Khatua and Chandan Khatua, all nearby residents, police said.

The condition of one more youth, who received severe injuries, is said to be critical. He was rushed to Nayagarh district headquarters hospital and later shifted to a hospital in Bhubaneswar as his condition deteriorated, the police added.

Police and fire service personnel rushed to the spot and started a rescue operation with the help of the local people, reported PTI.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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