A five-year-old boy lost his life and two other people were seriously injured after an SUV collided with the scooter on which they were travelling on Grand Road in Puri town on Friday, police said.
The deceased was identified as Sreyansh Dey, a resident of Puri. The two injured victims — a boy and an adult man — were taken to Puri hospital, where they remain under treatment. Authorities described the injuries as serious but said the hospital was stabilising the patients.
According to police accounts, the SUV struck the scooter from behind and dragged it for some distance along Grand Road, a busy thoroughfare that leads to the Jagannath temple, the town’s most visited landmark. Emergency services reached the scene shortly after the collision, administered first aid and transported the injured to hospital.
An on-site police team secured the area and began collecting statements from witnesses. The body of the young boy was transferred to the district hospital for a post-mortem examination, a routine step in such cases, and investigators said they are examining available footage and speaking with the SUV’s occupants to determine the sequence of events.
Puri scooter accident prompts police probe
Senior officers said the initial report indicated the SUV struck the scooter from the rear, but they cautioned that the probe is at an early stage and a full reconstruction will be needed to confirm speed, visibility and whether any traffic violations occurred. Traffic flow on Grand Road was affected for several hours as investigators processed the scene.
Local residents and temple visitors expressed shock at the incident. Grand Road is a key access route to the Jagannath temple and experiences heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic, particularly at festival times. Road safety campaigners have previously called for improved traffic management in the area to reduce the risk of collisions.
Police urged anyone with information, including dashcam or mobile phone footage, to come forward to assist the inquiry. They also said they will examine whether the SUV driver was under any impairment or if mechanical failure played a role. No arrests were announced immediately.
The death has renewed calls from community leaders for enhanced safety measures on arterial roads in Puri. Suggestions include clearer lane markings, reduced speed limits in temple precincts and increased enforcement of existing traffic laws to protect pedestrians and two-wheeler riders.
Further details, including the exact cause of the collision and any potential charges, will be released as the investigation progresses. Authorities said they will update the public once the post-mortem and technical enquiries are completed.
For now, the town remains in mourning for the young life lost in the crash while medical teams continue to treat the injured and police pursue the facts of the case.
Key Takeaways:
- A five-year-old boy, identified as Sreyansh Dey, was killed when an SUV struck the scooter he was travelling on in Puri.
- Two others — a boy and a man — were seriously injured and hospitalised at Puri hospital.
- The incident occurred on Grand Road near the Jagannath temple; police say the SUV hit the scooter from behind and dragged it.
- Police have rescued the injured, sent the body for post-mortem and launched an investigation into the Puri scooter accident.
