Sambalpur, June 11: A tragic road accident claimed the lives of a man and his minor daughter after a cement mixer truck allegedly rammed into an electric auto-rickshaw near Jhankar Bandh under the Dhanupali police limits in Odisha's Sambalpur district late on Wednesday night.
The deceased have been identified as Surendra Behera, an auto-rickshaw driver from Dhanupali, and his minor daughter Shubhashree Behera.
According to reports, the collision left both father and daughter critically injured. Locals rushed them to the District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared Shubhashree dead on arrival.
Surendra was subsequently shifted to the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) for advanced treatment. However, family members alleged that no doctor was available in the emergency department at the time. He was later transferred to a private hospital in Burla, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment on Thursday morning.
Following the accident, the driver of the cement mixer truck fled the spot. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the absconding driver.
