Bhubaneswar: A man and his daughter were killed in an accident near Gangapada Chowk on the city outskirts on Saturday, once again drawing attention to the growing number of fatal crashes on the busy NH-16 stretch under Infovalley police station limits. Following the accident, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the next of kin of the deceased.According to the chief minister’s office, Majhi conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls. The financial assistance is intended to support the family in coping in the aftermath of the tragedy.
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The accident sparked anger among local residents, many of whom have repeatedly raised concerns over road safety at Gangapada Chowk. Locals alleged that frequent accidents involving heavy vehicles, speeding traffic and inadequate safety measures have made the stretch particularly hazardous.“Gangapada Chowk has turned into a death zone. We are witnessing major accidents at this particular spot often every day. We have urged the authorities to introduce traffic-calming measures at the spot but so far no concrete step has been taken by the govt,” said Nirakar Mohanta, a local resident.The latest mishap is not an isolated incident. In Jan this year, a woman was killed and her son was critically injured after a truck allegedly ran over her near Gangapada on NH-16. Earlier the same month, three persons died when an SUV rammed into a trailer on the Gangapada-Pitapalli stretch.The area has witnessed several fatal crashes in recent years. In Aug 2025, a man died while his wife and two-year-old child suffered critical injuries after a truck hit their motorcycle near Gangapada Chowk. In Feb 2025, three persons were killed when a speeding truck collided with a car on Gangapada Road.Residents have repeatedly demanded improved traffic management, stricter enforcement against speeding vehicles and additional safety infrastructure at the accident-prone junction. Saturday’s tragedy has renewed calls for immediate intervention by the authorities to prevent further loss of life, sources said.
