7 of wedding party die as vehicle falls into Hirakud canal

SAMBALPUR: Seven persons of a wedding party were killed and four others were critically injured after the vehicle in which they were travelling fell into the Sason canal of Hirakud dam near Bishalkhinda in Sambalpur district early on Friday.
The accident occurred when some of those from the groom's side were returning to Baddhara village under Lakhanpur block in Jharsuguda district after attending the marriage ceremony at Parmanpur under Sason police station in Sambalpur.
Police said 11 people were in the vehicle. The SUV fell into the canal after travelling only around 3 km from the place where they attended the wedding ceremony. After getting information, police and fire service personnel rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation.
While four persons managed to get out of the vehicle, seven bodies were retrieved from the canal.
Sambalpur superintendent of police B Gangadhar said that it seems the vehicle was moving at high speed when it fell into the canal. "The driver might have failed to see the turning on the road due to darkness which led to the accident. However, investigation into the matter is underway.
The motor vehicle inspector (MVI) will examine whether there was any mechanical fault in the vehicle," he said. Police identified the deceased as Ajit Khamri (25), Dibya Luha (27), Saroj Seth (35), Sumanta Bhoi (35), Subal Bhoi (23), Ramakanta Bhuyan (23), besides the driver and owner of the SUV, Bhiku Bhoi (30), all from Baddhara.
(With inputs by Ritesh Sharma from Jharsuguda)