Baripada, May 13: A tragic road accident on National Highway-18 near Gadadeulia Chhak under Baisinga police limits in Mayurbhanj district claimed the life of a pregnant woman and left several others critically injured late Tuesday night.

Former Mayurbhanj Zilla Parishad chairperson and Gadadeulia petrol pump owner Kamala Tiria, her younger son Abhishek Tiria and a few others sustained serious injuries in the mishap. Kamala Tiria’s pregnant daughter-in-law Deeptirekha Singh died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

According to sources, Kamala Tiria along with her younger son and daughter-in-law was returning to Baripada from Bhubaneswar after a medical check-up when the accident occurred at around 11.30 pm. Their car reportedly rammed into the rear side of a truck that had allegedly been parked illegally along the roadside near Gadadeulia Chhak on NH-18.

The impact of the collision was so severe that the car hit the trailer and later crashed into the road divider. Local residents rushed to the spot, rescued the injured occupants and shifted them to a hospital in Balasore district for treatment.

However, Deeptirekha Singh succumbed to her injuries during treatment. The condition of Kamala Tiria and her son Abhishek, who was reportedly driving the vehicle, remains critical, sources said.

Police reached the accident site soon after the incident and launched an investigation. The body of the deceased was sent to the District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem examination, while both vehicles involved in the accident have been seized.

Locals alleged that frequent illegal parking of heavy vehicles along the roadside has become a major cause of repeated accidents in the area.