Cuttack, April 26: Two students appearing for the matriculation examination died in a road accident near Gadbishanpur under Ersama block in Jagatsinghpur district today.

The incident occurred around 10.30am when some 25 students of Binapani High School were returning home on a van after writing their papers on the last day of the matriculation examination today.

Eyewitnesses said the van carrying the schoolchildren overturned while its driver was trying to take a turn near a bridge.

The accident left more than 15 students injured. Eight critically-injured students had to be rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital where two were declared brought dead. The deceased have been identified as Bigyan Behera and Dilip Behera.

“My daughter had gone to write her papers on the last day of examination today. Around 25 students had hired the van for reaching and returning from the examination center,” said Gopal Majhi, father of Pushpa Majhi, who is undergoing treatment at SCB.