Wedding Joy Turns Tragedy: 5 Killed in Dhenkanal Pond Mishap

Dhenkanal, Odisha: A wedding celebration turned tragic late Wednesday night when a car carrying seven members of a marriage party plunged into a pond near Chhatia village in Dhenkanal district.

Five passengers, including the driver, lost their lives in the accident, while two managed to escape by breaking open the car door and swimming to safety.

The deceased have been identified as Chandrakant Swain (driver), Abinash Sahu, Rakesh Sahu, Sriram Sahu, and Abhijit Sahu.

Survivors Bablu and Shibu recounted the harrowing moments as the vehicle sank.

Local villagers rushed to the spot and pulled the victims out, but they were declared dead upon arrival at the District Headquarters Hospital.

Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the mishap, which has cast a pall of gloom over the community.