5 killed as car plunges into pond in Odisha's Dhenkanal after wedding
Synopsis
Seven friends returning from a wedding in rural Odisha hit a sharp bend near Chhatia village — five never made it out of the submerged car. The same night, three more died in Kendujhar when a family rushing a sick relative to hospital crashed into a tree. Eight lives lost across Odisha in a single night of road accidents.
Key Takeaways
Five youths died after their car plunged into a roadside pond near Chhatia village in Dhenkanal district , Odisha , in the early hours of 24 July 2025 .
The deceased are Rama Sahoo , Abinash Sahoo , Rakesh Sahoo , Chandrakanta Swain , and Abhijit Sahoo — all from villages under Dhenkanal police limits.
Two survivors were pulled out by members of the groom's wedding party and local residents.
In a separate crash the same night in Kendujhar district's Champua area , three members of the Apat family — including Trilochan Apat and his wife — died when their car hit a tree.
Bodies from the Dhenkanal accident were sent to Dhenkanal District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem; police have registered cases in both incidents.
Five youths died after their car veered off the road and submerged in a roadside pond in Dhenkanal district, Odisha, in the early hours of Thursday, 24 July 2025, while they were returning from a friend's wedding. Two others in the same vehicle survived the accident.
Who the Victims Were
Police have identified the deceased as Rama Sahoo, Abinash Sahoo, Rakesh Sahoo, and Chandrakanta Swain — all residents of Bangursingh village under Motanga police limits — and Abhijit Sahoo of Chainpurpatana village under Dhenkanal Sadar police limits. All five were young men who had attended the same marriage function together.
How the Accident Unfolded
The group of seven had travelled to Indipur village on Wednesday night to attend a friend's wedding. On their return journey, the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle at a sharp curve near Chhatia village. The car skidded off the road and plunged into a pond alongside the highway.
Two occupants managed to force their way out of the submerged car and survive. The remaining five were trapped inside and could not be pulled out in time. Members of the groom's wedding party, along with local residents who rushed to the scene, helped rescue the two survivors.
Rescue and Investigation
Police teams reached the spot after being alerted and launched a recovery operation. The bodies of all five victims were retrieved from the water and sent to Dhenkanal District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem examination. Authorities have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the circumstances of the crash, according to police sources.
Second Fatal Crash in Odisha the Same Night
In a separate incident on Wednesday night, three people — including a couple — died in a road accident in the Champua area of Kendujhar district. Trilochan Apat of Sijukala village had reportedly fallen ill suddenly, and his wife, son, and brother were rushing him to a nearby hospital by car when the driver reportedly lost control and the vehicle struck a roadside tree.
Trilochan, his wife, and his brother died in the crash. His son, Ranjit, sustained serious injuries and has been admitted to hospital for treatment. The two accidents together claimed eight lives across Odisha within a single night.
A Recurring Pattern on Odisha's Roads
Road fatalities linked to sharp turns, late-night driving, and water bodies along highways have been a persistent concern in rural Odisha. The Dhenkanal crash follows a broader pattern of post-event accidents in which overcrowded vehicles navigate poorly lit rural roads in the early morning hours. Authorities are expected to face renewed pressure to address road safety infrastructure in these districts.
Point of View
A sudden loss of control, and no safety infrastructure to prevent the worst outcome. The Dhenkanal pond accident is particularly stark — five young men died not from the impact but from entrapment in a submerged vehicle, suggesting that basic roadside barriers and emergency response capacity near water bodies remain absent. These are not freak accidents; they are predictable outcomes of neglected rural road safety.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Dhenkanal car accident happen?
The accident occurred near Chhatia village in Dhenkanal district , Odisha, when a car returning from a wedding at Indipur village veered off the road at a sharp turn and plunged into a roadside pond in the early hours of 24 July 2025.
Who were the five victims of the Dhenkanal car accident?
The five deceased have been identified as Rama Sahoo, Abinash Sahoo, Rakesh Sahoo, and Chandrakanta Swain of Bangursingh village, and Abhijit Sahoo of Chainpurpatana village — all under Dhenkanal police limits in Odisha.
How did two people survive the Dhenkanal pond accident?
Two of the seven occupants managed to escape through the submerged vehicle on their own. They were subsequently helped by members of the wedding party and local residents who rushed to the scene.
What happened in the separate Kendujhar road accident?
Three people, including a couple, died in the Champua area of Kendujhar district late Wednesday night when a car carrying a sick family member to hospital struck a roadside tree. The injured son, Ranjit, was admitted to hospital with serious injuries.
Are police investigating the Dhenkanal accident?
Yes. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the circumstances of the crash. The bodies were sent to Dhenkanal District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem examination, according to police sources.
