At least four schoolchildren were killed after a truck ran over them in Bhadrak district of Odisha on Thursday evening, PTI reported. Five children were injured and are in a critical condition.
The incident took place at around 4 pm on National Highway 16 at Ranitela when the children were returning from school on their bicycles, according to Odisha TV.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those killed. The injured students will receive free medical support, he added.
Residents of the area reportedly set the truck on fire. The driver and the cleaner of the bus are absconding. Several vehicles were stranded on the highway near the accident site, connecting Chennai and Kolkata.
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