Relatives of the accident victims at Gandamunda in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, March 6: Two students riding a two-wheeler were killed in an accident while negotiating a turn at Gandamunda Square last night.

The death of the two — both students of private colleges in the city — once again brings into focus the dangerous V-shaped turn at the spot and poor street lighting that have coupled to cause no less than 10 accident fatalities in the past two years.

The youths were identified as 24-year-old Birendra Sahu and Siba Kumar Pradhan (22). While Sahu was studying engineering, Pradhan was pursuing MBA.

Police said the boys were going from the Forest Park area to Jagmara via Khandagiri-Pokhariput road around 12am last night when their vehicle skidded at the turning near Gandamunda Square, which falls in Khandagiri police station limits.

“When our vans reached the spot, the bodies of the youths were found lying on the road. They were taken to Capital Hospital, where they were declared brought dead,” said a police officer.

Police then informed the Rourkela-based parents of the students. Gloom descended on the hospital as the parents and relatives of the deceased arrived there from Rourkela.

The sharp turn at Gandamunda Square near Tarini slum has turned into a danger zone. On December 26 last year, two persons died and one sustained injuries at this turning as their motorcycle hit the road divider while trying to negotiate the turn. The deceased — Ranjan Sahu and Lituna Muduli — and the injured Amar Pradhan, were students of an engineering college.

Police said the road has become a virtual death trap. The youths drive their vehicles at high speeds on the stretch between Jagamara and Pokhariput. More than 10 people have died and an equal number have sustained injuries in accidents here in the past two years, said a police officer.

Residents of the area too are unhappy with this turning. Besides, street lights that do not function most of the time make the spot all the more prone to accidents. Most of the accidents have been taking place in the evening or late at night.

“The V-shaped turning coupled with poor street lighting has caused many accidents here. If a driver is not aware of the turn, he is sure to hit the divider or the trees beside the road,” said Jatin Behera, a nearby slum dweller.