Two motorcyclists were killed early Sunday when an unidentified vehicle allegedly rammed into their motorcycle on State Highway 57 near Ambapunja in Odisha’s Balasore district. The victims have been identified as residents of Bag village under Kamarda police station limits.

The accident occurred around 3:00 am as the riders were returning from Jaleswar. Preliminary reports suggest the unknown vehicle struck the motorcycle with significant force, causing both riders and the bike to fall off a bridge along the highway. Witnesses said the victims fell approximately 15 feet below the bridge and immediately alerted the police.

Authorities rushed the injured riders to Jaleswar hospital, where both were declared dead on arrival.

Police have launched an investigation to identify the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run. Preliminary findings and local accounts suggest a sand-laden truck may have struck the motorcycle before fleeing the scene. Sand trucks frequently travel this route transporting materials to West Bengal, and this angle is being closely examined.

As part of the probe, police have intensified monitoring of sand-carrying trucks in the area and are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby locations to reconstruct the sequence of events.