Rice-laden truck overturns as portion of drain caves in Odisha’s Sonepur, locals allege substandard work

A rice-laden truck overturned into a roadside drain at Papakshaya Chhak in Binika town of Sonepur district of Odisha early on Thursday morning, leaving hundreds of sacks of rice strewn across the road. The driver and helper escaped unhurt in the mishap.

The truck was carrying rice from a local rice mill to Sardhapali when the accident occurred. According to local residents, the vehicle was being parked near the roadside when one of its wheels slipped into the drain, causing the truck to lose balance and overturn.

Driver blames road-level drain

The truck driver said the drain was difficult to identify because it was almost level with the road surface.

“The drain and the road are nearly at the same level, making it difficult for drivers to distinguish between the two. While trying to park the truck, one side suddenly slipped into the drain. I tried to control the vehicle, but it overturned,” the driver said.

“I was transporting a load of rice to Sardhapali when the accident took place,” he added.

The accident left hundreds of sacks of rice scattered on the road, drawing a large crowd of local residents to the spot.

Residents allege poor-quality construction

The incident has reignited concerns over the quality of drainage work in Binika, with residents alleging that similar accidents have occurred in the past.

Local resident Pradeep Bagh alleged that flaws in the drain’s design and construction have made the stretch dangerous for motorists.

“The drain should have been constructed in a way that clearly separates it from the road. Since both are almost at the same level, drivers often fail to notice the edge, leading to accidents,” he said.

“Crores of rupees have reportedly been spent on development works, but the quality remains poor. Accidents involving trucks, tractors and other vehicles have become common here, yet no concrete steps have been taken to address the problem,” Bagh alleged.

Rice sacks spill onto road

The overturned truck remained lodged in the drain for several hours as efforts were made to remove the vehicle and recover the spilled rice sacks.

Residents have demanded that the concerned authorities inspect the site and take corrective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.