Berhampur, Oct. 29: Seven persons, including one woman, were killed in an accident on NH-16, which is 12km from here, this morning.

The accident occurred when a truck rammed into the inner road of a vegetable market at Randha junction under Golanthara police, hitting a mini van from which, vegetables were being offloaded. Around six more persons were injured in the incident.

The driver and the helper of the truck fled from the spot soon after the accident. The truck was loaded with potatoes and was on its way to Andhra Pradesh from Bengal, inspector in-charge of Golanthara police station Aloke Jena said. Eyewitnesses said the vegetable market, which supplies vegetables to nearby areas including Randha, Kanisi and Chikarada, was abuzz with activities.

G. Lalitha Reddy, 45, of Chikarada, Apanna Bishoyi, 47, of Ratakana village under Ichhapur Rural police station in Andhra Pradesh, Sanjaya Kumar Sahu, 39, of Balikuda, Ramesh Chandra Samal, 58, of Kanisi Haata, Bulu Behera, 38, of Gandala and Rabindra Barada, 45, of Golanthara died on the spot. Srikant Patra, 18, of Randha succumbed to his injuries at MKCG Hospital a few hours later, police said.

The six injured persons are undergoing treatment at the MKCG Hospital.

Eyewitnesses said the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle while trying to save a motorcyclist and hit the mini truck. The impact forced the mini truck to move nearly 200 meters and hit another vehicle.

Angry residents blocked NH-16 for two hours from 6am demanding adequate compensation for the families of the deceased and injured. The blockade was lifted only after DIG, southern range, Amitav Thakur, police chief Sarthak Sarangi, Ganjam collector Prem Chandra Chowdhary and other officials reached the spot and assured them of help.

Chowdhary sanctioned Rs 10,000 each to the families of those killed from the Red Cross fund.