Sundergarh mishap: Kabaddi players' death toll rises to 9

ROURKELA: With three more kabaddi players succumbing to injuries, the toll in mini-truck mishap in Odisha's Sundargarh district rose to nine today as the state government announced Rs one lakh ex-gratia for each bereaved family and said it will bear medical expenses of the injured.

The mishap took place when the mini-truck carrying kabaddi players and their supporters overturned and fell off a bridge near near Lahunipara last evening after its driver lost control, a senior police officer said.

While six players had died and 16 others were critically injured yesterday, three of the wounded died later, he said.

Thirteen injured persons were still undergoing treatment in hospitals in Rourkela and Banai, police said adding their condition was stated to be serious.

Meanwhile, expressing grief over the casualties, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh each to the kin of the deceased.

The state government would also bear medical expenses of the injured persons, an official in Chief Minister's Office said.