A tragic accident occurred on Saturday night near Mahendragarh under R. Udayagiri police station limits in Gajapati district, Odisha, when a motorcycle plunged nearly 25 feet from a bridge, leaving one dead and another injured.
The deceased has been identified as Kureshu Dalai of Lalsahi under Randiva panchayat. He was travelling with a pillion rider from Mahendragarh towards Randiva when the accident took place.
Reports indicate that the motorcycle lost balance near a turning on the bridge and fell off. The impact proved fatal for Dalai, while the pillion rider sustained minor injuries. Sources noted that the pillion rider did not fall off the bridge, which likely reduced the severity of injuries.
Local accounts suggest that dense fog at the time significantly reduced visibility. The bridge, reportedly lacking adequate safety walls, may have contributed to the accident under low-visibility conditions.
Fire personnel from R. Udayagiri rushed to the scene and conducted a rescue operation, retrieving Dalai from the water below the bridge. Despite efforts, he succumbed to injuries from the fall. The operation took nearly an hour, hindered by night-time low visibility and water currents. The motorcycle was later recovered from the site.
Following the rescue, police arrived at the scene and launched an investigation into the circumstances of the accident. Further inquiries are underway to determine the exact cause.
