Five school students were killed and four grievously injured when a truck ran over them on NH 16 in Bhadrak district on Thursday.
Four of the five victims were girls. The students were returning from Ranital High School when the accident occurred. The injured were taken to Bhadrak district hospital.
By the time locals rushed to the spot, the driver and the helper of the truck had already fled. Angry locals set the truck on fire.
Expressing grief over the accident, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh each to the family of the deceased.
