Argus News - Trailer Falls 20 Feet Off Bridge on NH-16 in Odisha's Khallikote

Berhampur, Feb 11: A major road accident was reported at Badaghati under Khallikote police station limits on National Highway-16 in Odisha's Ganjam district, where an iron rod-laden trailer overturned and fell nearly 20 feet from a bridge late last night.

According to our source from the ground, the trailer was travelling from Andhra Pradesh towards Bhubaneswar when it allegedly lost control while crossing the Badaghati bridge on NH-16 and plunged off the bridge. The vehicle fell approximately 20 feet below, resulting in severe damage to the trailer.

The driver of the trailer sustained critical injuries in the accident. Our source informed that he was first rescued and rushed to the Khallikote Community Health Centre in an ambulance for primary treatment. Later, he was shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur as his condition required advanced medical care.

On receiving information, Khallikote police reached the spot and initiated rescue operations. The trailer had fallen onto the main road connecting Bhubaneswar to Aska, causing obstruction to vehicular movement for some time. A crane was later deployed to remove the damaged vehicle from the road, the source added.

Police personnel regulated traffic in the area and launched a further investigation into the incident.

Notably, two days prior to this accident, a truck loaded with paper rolls had overturned at the same location. According to local inputs, multiple accidents have occurred at this spot at different times, leading to loss of lives and property.

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The mishap comes amid alarming road safety statistics in Odisha. Data presented in the Odisha Assembly on November 28, 2025, revealed that the state recorded 27,167 road accident deaths over the last five years, averaging 5,433 fatalities annually. During the same period, 50,041 people were injured.

Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena had informed the House that Odisha reported 56,830 road accidents between 2020 and 2024. Except for 2020 -- when pandemic restrictions reduced fatalities to 4,738 -- annual deaths have consistently remained above 5,000.

To address road safety, the state government spent Rs 89.73 crore on various initiatives between 2020–21 and 2024–25, besides disbursing Rs 23.17 crore as financial assistance to accident victims under the Solatium Fund Scheme.