Two jawans of Odisha Special Armed Police died and 25 others sustained injuries when the van they were travelling in collided with a truck near Belpahar on NH-49 in Jharsuguda district early on Friday.

The victims — Prashant Behera and Shankar Prasad Pant — were part of the OSAP party which was on its way to Banharpalli where Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik addressed a public meeting later in the day.

Seven of the jawans were shifted to VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Burla, after their condition deteriorated. The rest of them were being treated at Brajarajnagar and Belphar. The police vehicle carrying 40 trainee jawans of OSAP’s 2nd Battalion had set out for Banharpalli around 6.30 a.m.

Mr. Patnaik announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh each and government jobs to the next of kin of the deceased jawans. In case of any threatened disability, an ex gratia of ₹1 lakh has been announced.