Phulbani Road Accident: Auto Driver Burned Alive, Two Critical After Collision
Phulbani witnessed a horrifying accident on January 17, 2026, when an auto-rickshaw and a Suzuki Ertiga collided head-on near the Datapaju village square.
The impact was so severe that both vehicles caught fire instantly.
Auto driver Barun Mallik, a resident of Meniakathi village under Tudipaju panchayat, was trapped inside and burned alive. Two passengers, Babula Malik (20) and Sailendra Kanhar, sustained critical burn injuries.
They were rushed to Phulbani District Headquarters Hospital and later shifted to MKCG Medical College, Berhampur, for advanced treatment.
Fire brigade teams reached the spot but could not save the vehicles. Police suspect that the occupants of the car fled the scene immediately after the crash. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.
The incident has sparked concern among locals about road safety in the region, where high-speed collisions on narrow roads are frequent.
Residents are demanding stricter enforcement of traffic rules and better safety measures to prevent such tragedies.
