Tragic Accident in Dhenkanal: 5 Dead After Wedding SUV Plunges into Pond

In a heartbreaking turn of events, a joyous wedding procession turned into a tragedy early Thursday morning in Odisha's Dhenkanal district, leaving five young men dead after their SUV swerved off the road and sank into a roadside pond.

What Happened?

The incident occurred around 2:30 AM near Chhatiya village under the Motanga police limits. A group of seven friends was traveling as part of a groom’s party from Bangur Singh village toward Indipur for a wedding ceremony.

According to local reports and preliminary police findings:

  • The SUV was traveling at a high speed.

  • The driver lost control while navigating a sharp curve along the road.

  • The vehicle flipped over and plunged deep into a nearby pond.

Heroic Rescue Effort by Locals

Hearing the crash in the middle of the night, villagers from Chhatiya rushed to the scene to help. Showing incredible quick thinking, locals leaped into the water, forced open the trapped car doors, and pulled the occupants out. They immediately alerted the 108 ambulance service to transport the victims to the hospital.

Despite their quick response, five of the youths could not be saved.

"We rushed to the spot as soon as we heard what happened," said Prakash Chandra Barik, a local resident who helped with the rescue. "The car was moving very fast when it lost control and overturned into the water. We managed to break open the door and pull everyone out, but unfortunately, only two made it."

Victims and Survivors

Police have identified the deceased as:

  • Chandrakant Swain (Driver)

  • Avinash Sahu

  • Rakesh Sahu

  • Shriram Sahu (all four from Bangur Singh village)

  • Abhijit Sahu (from Siminai village)

Two passengers—Babul Sahu and Soumya Ranjan Sahu—managed to scramble out of the vehicle as it sank. They were rescued by the villagers and rushed to the Dhenkanal District Headquarters Hospital. Doctors confirm that both are in stable condition and expected to recover.

Aftermath

Dhenkanal Sadar police arrived shortly after the incident to tow the submerged vehicle out of the pond. The bodies of the five victims have been sent for post-mortem examinations and will be handed over to their grieving families once procedures are complete. A heavy cloud of shock and sorrow has settled over the home villages of the young men.