Keonjhar, Oct 23: In a tragic incident, a man returning from a cremation was killed and nine others sustained injuries when the auto-rickshaw they were travelling in overturned in Banspal block of Odisha’s Keonjhar district last evening.

The deceased has been identified as Anil Munda, a resident of Sundura village under Nayakote police limits.

As per reports, Anil along with some other relatives had gone to attend the cremation of one Shiba Munda, who had died earlier in the day in an elephant attack at Dhanagadi village.

After attending Shiba Munda’s cremation, the group was returning home in an auto-rickshaw when the vehicle lost control near the Jatra Panchayat office and overturned on the road. Locals said the auto-rickshaw was overcrowded at the time of the accident.

Local bystanders jumped to their rescue and rushed the victims to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Unfortunately, Anil sustained critical injuries and later succumbed at the Banspal Health Centre, while nine others, reportedly from the Handibhanga area, were injured and are currently undergoing treatment.

Upon getting the information, Nayakote Police rushed to the spot and launched a probe into the matter.

A case has been registered and further investigation into the cause of the accident is underway, said the police.