Republic Day function turns tragic in Odisha as pick-up van overturns killing a student, 20 others injured in mishap

A class 10 student died and 20 others were injured as a pick-up van that was taking them to a Republic Day function overturned in Odisha's Cuttack district on Sunday, police said. The incident happened near Anshupa Lake when students of Malaviharapur High School were on the way to the Saranda Parade Ground after attending the flag hoisting programme in their own school, they said.

There were around 25 students in the van when the accident happened, district collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde said. The deceased was identified as Soumya Ranjan Behera, police said. "The injured students were first taken to Athagarh hospital where one student died. Some seriously injured students were later referred to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack," said SP Prateek Singh.