Keonjhar: Two people were killed and one seriously injured when a motorcycle collided with a trawler on NH-20 near Rajabasa village under Jhumpura police limits on Thursday afternoon. The accident took place when Preeti Ranjan Majhi (20), who was riding the motorcycle with two passengers — Puja Majhi (17) and Lilly Majhi (18) — attempted to overtake a trawler.

The motorcycle collided with the trawler resulting in the immediate death of two riders. Lilly was rushed to the hospital.
Local residents staged a protest following the incident, citing frequent accidents in the area over the past few months. The demonstration was later dissolved after police intervention, with protesters demanding the National Highways Authority of India to take immediate steps to prevent accidents in the future. “The road was cleared immediately,” said Manoj Rout, additional superintendent of police, Keonjhar. The victims were reportedly travelling from Baria to Marsuan.