At least seven labourers were killed and three others seriously injured when the mini truck in which they were carrying cowdung manure fell off a ghat road in Kandhamal district today, the police said.
All the victims were sitting atop the loaded truck when it skidded off Pakari ghat road under Gochhapara police station, and went down at least 20 feet below, SDPO Prabhat Mohapatra said.
After rescuers managed to lift the over-turned vehicle, seven of its occupants were found to be buried to death in the cowdung manure while three others injured were sent to district headquarters here for treatment.
All the deceased belonged to nearby hamlets, the SDPO said adding the driver was absconding.
