5 killed, 6 injured in Odisha road accident, CM Majhi condoles
Bhubaneswar (PTI): At least five persons died and six others were critically injured when a truck ran over three two-wheelers in Odisha’s Ganjam district, police said on Saturday morning.
The accident took place at Haldiapadar on National Highway-16 that passes through Berhampur city.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the truck was travelling on the wrong side of the NH and it rammed into three motorcycles one after another before hitting a bridge.
"Four persons died on the spot and one succumbed to injuries later. The injured, including a few pedestrians, were taken to MKCG Medical College Hospital," police said.
According to police, the speeding truck hit three bikes and dragged them for about 200 metres. The driver fled the scene immediately after the incident.
Southern Range IG Niti Sekhar reached the spot and monitored the rescue of the injured persons. He said the truck's driver was later arrested and investigation was on.
Taking to X, CMO Odisha said, "Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed grief after learning about the loss of lives in a tragic road accident at Haldiapadar near Berhampur in Ganjam district."
It added that Majhi also announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of the deceased from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF).
The CM has directed authorities to ensure best medical care to all the injured, it added.
Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in separate social media posts also expressed grief over the death of the five persons in the accident.
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Rev. Dr. Leslie Clifford D'Souza named new Archbishop of Udupi Diocese
Udupi: Pope Leo XIV has appointed Rev. Dr. Leslie Clifford D’Souza as the new Archbishop of the Udupi diocese. He is currently serving as the priest of the Our Lady of Health Church in Shirva.
The appointment was officially announced in Rome on January 31 at 12 noon (4.30 pm IST) and simultaneously at the Milagres Cathedral in Kalyanpur, Udupi district.
Rev. Dr. Leslie began his education at Saraswati Mandir Senior Secondary School, Uchila (1969–1976), followed by his secondary education at Government Fisheries High School, Yermal (1976–1979). He completed his pre-university studies at Purna Prajna College (1979–1981).
He pursued priestly formation at St. Joseph’s Inter-Provincial Seminary, Mangaluru, where he studied philosophy and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mysore (1982–1985). He later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome (1986–1990).
Rev. Dr. Leslie holds a Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Mysore (1991–1993) and a Diploma in Depth Psychology and Formation from the Bangalore Institute of Psychology and Training (1993–1995). He further completed a Licentiate in Theology (1997–1999) and a Doctorate in Moral Theology (1999–2003) at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium.
He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Mangalore on May 10, 1990. His priestly ministry began as an assistant priest at Holy Rosary Church, Kundapura (1990–1992), and later at Holy Cross Church, Kulasekara, Mangaluru (1992–1995).
He served as a professor and formator in moral theology at St. Joseph’s Inter-Provincial Seminary, Mangaluru (1995–1997), and continued as a visiting professor until 2013.
Rev. Dr. Leslie later served as parish priest of St. John the Evangelist Church, Pangla/Shankarpur (2010–2017), and Mount Rosary Church, Kalyanpur–Santekatte (2017–2022). During this period, he also held the responsibility of coordinator of educational institutions.
Since June 2022, he has been serving as parish priest of Shokamata Church, Shirva, and as coordinator of Don Bosco and St. Mary’s educational institutions. He has also played a key role in the administration and governance of the Diocese of Udupi.
He served as Secretary of the Council of Priests from 2022 to 2025 and currently holds multiple responsibilities, including Principal Religious Teacher of the Shirva Zone, Advocate of the Diocesan Tribunal of Udupi, and member of the Advisory Board (2023 to present).
