Sundergarh mishap toll rises 9

With three more persons succumbing to injuries, the toll in the mini-truck mishap in Odisha's Sundargarh district today rose to nine as the state government announced Rs 1 lakh as ex-gratia for each bereaved family.

Six persons were killed on the spot and 13 others seriously injured yesterday when the mini-truck overturned and fell off a bridge near Lahunipara as the driver of the vehicle lost control.

Of the 13 injured, three died at hospital today taking the death toll to nine while 10 others were still admitted in two hospitals in Rourkela and Banai. The injured were mostly kabadi players, a senior police officer said.
 

Meanwhile, expressing grief over the casualties, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh each to the kin of the deceased.

The state government would also bear medical expenses of the injured persons, an official in Chief Minister's Office said.