Odisha highway crash leaves woman dead and nine injured in Ganjam pile-up

A multi-vehicle chain collision on a highway in Odisha’s Ganjam district has left a woman dead and nine other people injured, with police reviewing CCTV footage to establish how the initial crash occurred.

The collision took place on Thursday when a car and a truck collided on the highway. Following the initial impact, both heavy vehicles ploughed into several passing two-wheelers, triggering a pile-up that damaged multiple motorbikes and scattered wreckage across the carriageway.

Police identified the deceased victim as Rosalin Mishra. Emergency responders transported all nine injured motorists to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in nearby Brahmapur for treatment. Ganjam Superintendent of Police Harish Bisi said officers were working to confirm the identities of all those receiving medical care.

What happened on the highway

Security footage recorded from nearby roadside cameras captured the moment the car and truck made contact before spinning into adjacent traffic. The force of the impact swept up several commuters riding motorcycles behind and alongside the larger vehicles.

Following the crash, residents from neighbouring localities gathered at the site, staging a road blockade that halted vehicle movement across both lanes. Protesters raised concerns regarding safety along the accident-prone stretch, seeking the installation of barricades, dedicated traffic police deployment, improved emergency medical services, and the eventual construction of an overbridge.

Local authorities and police personnel intervened to manage the crowd, clear stranded vehicles, and restore normal flow along the arterial transport corridor.

Crash details at a glance

Official response and investigation

District administration and law enforcement teams moved swiftly to secure the crash scene, assist the wounded, and begin a formal inquiry into the circumstances leading up to the impact.

Investigators are inspecting both the truck and the car to evaluate vehicle conditions, brake performance, and potential speeding. Police officials indicated that the CCTV recordings would form a central piece of the investigation to fix responsibility for the primary collision.

Meanwhile, civil authorities assured local residents that traffic safety arrangements along the highway corridor would be assessed, including monitoring measures and road regulation to prevent similar accidents.