At least nine kabaddi players were killed when a mini-truck overturned and fell off a bridge in Odisha's Sundargarh district on Saturday evening. Seven of the nine deceased have been identified as Chandra Sekhar Pradhan, Dharnidhar Nayak, Abhimanyu Kalo, Dharmendra Nayak, Umesh Kisan, Gautam Nayak and Guru Charan Kisan, Odisha The Samaya reported.

As many as 15 people on board the truck were injured and admitted to Ispat General Hospital in Rourkela. Supporters of the kabaddi players are also among the injured, IANS reported.

According to the report, the death toll is expected to rise as many of the injured are said to be in a critical condition.

Odisha government has announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each to the deceased's family. The injured passengers will be provided free treatment.

The accident occurred near Suarapalli on Lahunipara-Baharaposi when the passengers were returning to Sendhpur village in Bonei block from Dhudi Gaon after a kabaddi match. The initial reports suggest that the driver of the mini-truck lost control of the vehicle leading to the mishap.

Additional SP (Bonei) RB Panigrahi said that a police inquiry has been initiated into the accident.

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