DHAKA: Nine kabaddi players from Odisha were killed and 15 others were seriously injured after a mini-truck in which they were travelling fell off a bridge on Saturday evening near Surapalli in Sundargarh district.

The incident occurred around 4:30 pm on Saturday when the team from Sendhapur village in Bonai block was returning after playing a tournament in the neighbouring Dhundigaon, reports NDTV.

The victims have been identified as Abhiram Kalo (50), Dharanidhar Nayak (60), Chandra Sekhar Pradhan (18), Gauri Chandra Kissan (22) and Umesh Kissan (25).

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced ex-gratia of Rs1lakh each to the kin of the victims.

BDST: 1205 HRS, SEP 20, 2015
RS