Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan: In a tragic incident, two Indian sprinters Mrutyam Jayaram Dondapati and Malaya Barik died in a fatal road accident on the National Highway 16 near Phulnakhara in Kataka district late on Wednesday night.
Mrutyam, hailing from Kalahandi district, was among the country's fastest U23 sprinters in 2025. The deceased, Barik, was from the Baragada district. The duo was training at the High Performance Centres (HPCs) at the Kalinga Stadium Sports Complex in Bhubaneswar.
According to reports, four people; three athletes and a swimming coach were travelling on two two-wheelers to Kataka city to watch Durga Puja on Thursday night. Sources also added that Astik Pradhan, who recently secured a silver medal in the men’s 400-metre event at the U23 National Championships held in Jaipur, was reportedly riding a separate two-wheeler approximately 50 metres in the rear with the other member of the group.
