Bhubaneswar/ Cuttack, Jan. 1: Police penalised around 150 party revellers in the twin cities last night for drunk driving and rash driving during New Year celebrations.

Various road mishaps in Bhubaneswar also claimed one life and injured 18 last night.

A fatal road mishap took place at Kalpana Square when motorcyclist Gopal Krushna Panda was hit by a car from behind. Panda was rushed to Capital Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The police said six other road mishaps took place in Bhubaneswar mostly due to drink driving last night causing injury to 10 people.

Six accidents took place in Cuttack injuring eight commuters.

The cops said they had blocked roads at several important areas in the twin cities to trap party revellers driving under the influence of alcohol. Twelve platoons of police had been deployed in Cuttack and Bhubnaeswar to keep a watch on party revellers.

However, police said that barring a few incidents, New Year celebrations were largely peaceful in both cities.

However, three people were injured in firing at Gopalpur village in Cuttack Sadar police limits and, in another incident, party revellers vandalised a hotel in Bhubaneswar. They damaged furniture and other items at the hotel alleging mismanagement in organising the New Year party.

Deputy commissioner of police in Bhubaneswar Satyabrata Bhoi said adequate police personnel had been deployed in the state capital for New Year celebrations.

"A number of youngsters were found driving rashly under the influence of alcohol last night. Barring the attack on the hotel, the celebrations were peaceful in Bhuba-neswar," said Bhoi.