Nuapada, Dec 26: In a heart-wrenching incident, two young lives were lost and two others were critically injured when their motorcycle plunged into a river in the Komana area of Nuapada district on Thursday.

The victims have been identified as Shubha Hans from Babeghati village and Harischandra Patel from Hatisara village. The two injured, Ranjit Hans and Bhagabat Majhi both from Babeghati village are currently receiving treatment at the Komna Health Centre.

The group of youths had been returning from the famous Dhanu Jatra Festival held in Tarabod village, which is one of Odisha's largest open-air theatrical festivals. They were heading back towards Hatisara village to drop off Harischandra Patel when the motorcycle reportedly lost control near the Hatisara-Tarabod bridge. The bike veered off the road and plunged into the river, resulting in the tragic deaths of Shubha Hans and Harischandra Patel.

Upon receiving information about the accident, local police from Tarabod rushed to the site. They were able to recover the bodies of the deceased, which were sent for post-mortem. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, which remains under scrutiny.

This incident has left the local community in shock, with many mourning the untimely loss of the young lives. The accident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of road safety and the potential dangers of high-speed riding, especially on roads with limited visibility and control.