In a heartrending incident, five persons were killed and twelve others injured after a pickup van by which they were travelling towards Puri town fell into a canal near Rua village under the Chandanpur police limits in Puri district on Tuesday.
The tragedy occurred at around 5 am when the victims, all belonging to a family of Lal Kamanga village under the Jarada police limits in Ganjam district, were on their way to the pilgrim town to immerse the remains of a deceased member of the family.
The vehicle skidded off the road on the Jagannath Sadak near Rua village and fell into the canal leading to the death of five of them on the spot.
The deceased were identified as K Krishna (50), his brother Jagadish (40), K Yamabati (40), Abnan (7) and Yamabati (5).
The injured ones were admitted to the Chandanpur hospital.
The condition of one of them was stated to be critical.
