Bolangir, Ap 15: A family outing on Pana Sankranti turned into a heartbreaking tragedy near the Bolangir-Sonepur toll gate, where a pickup van crashed into a motorcycle, claiming the lives of a father and his one-and-a-half-year-old son. The child’s mother remains in critical condition at a hospital.

The tragic accident occurred on Tuesday when Ramakanta Naik, a migrant worker who had recently returned from Mumbai, took his family out to celebrate the festival. Locals said the outing was supposed to be a simple family trip, but it turned into a disaster in a split second when the pickup van collided with their motorcycle near the toll gate.

The collision was so intense that both Ramakanta and his toddler son died instantly. The news of the tragedy has deeply shocked their village, Dumberbahal.

Ramakanta’s wife, who was also riding with them, suffered severe injuries. She was initially taken to a nearby hospital and later transferred to Burla Medical College, where doctors have reported that she remains in critical condition.

Preliminary reports suggest that the pickup van driver lacked a valid driving license. This has raised concerns among locals about the lack of proper checks for vehicles operating on busy roads without adequate documentation.

In response to the tragedy, angry residents staged a road blockade at the accident site, demanding compensation for the grieving family. The protest lasted nearly four hours, disrupting traffic on the route. The blockade was lifted after local officials arrived and assured that action would be taken. However, the sorrow in Dumberbahal is still palpable. A man who had just returned home for the festival and a young child, too small to understand the significance of the occasion, have both been lost in an instant.