Bhubaneswar, Jan. 18: A retired bank manager was killed and his wife sustained serious injuries when a car hit their scooty from behind at Khandagiri Square this morning.

The incident took place at a traffic signal around 11.30am when the couple were heading towards Khurda.

While Uttam Kumar Sahu, 63, was declared dead on arrival at Capital Hospital, his wife Nirupama was admitted to a private hospital in a serious condition. Police said that the couple were going to visit one of their relatives undergoing treatment at a private hospital near Khandagiri.

Khandagiri has turned into a death trap with more than 30 people losing their lives in road accidents in the past three years.

"They were waiting for the signal to turn green when a car suddenly hit them from behind. The scooty rammed into a truck standing in front of them," said an eyewitness. Inspector in charge of Khandagiri police station Sarat Sahu said that the cops had seized the car.

"We are also trying to nab the driver who managed to escape after the accident," said Sahu.

The place is one of the 31 black spots or accident-prone areas in the state according to a survey of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and roads and buildings wing of the works department. Three such other dangerous areas identified in Khurda are Khurda bypass, Pitapalli Square and Tapang Square.

Earlier, a survey by regional transport office, Bhubaneswar I, had concluded that the square had turned into a death trap because of the absence of road signage and barricade between the national highway and the service road and encroachment on it.

Besides, the survey also revealed that the road from Baramunda to Khandagiri Square is on a down gradient (slope), as a result of which the speed of vehicles increases raising the chances of accidents.

Around one lakh vehicles cross the intersection everyday. The transport authorities have suggested installation of speed breakers 50 metres from the square on each of the four roads culminating at the junction.

Assistant commissioner of police (traffic) Jatindra Kumar Panda said adequate traffic personnel were being deployed at the square to regulate traffic.

"We have deployed seven cops, the highest manpower for any traffic intersection in the city. Traffic is being regulated from 8am to 11pm at the square," he said.