Sambalpur: A man and his minor daughter lost their lives in a road accident after a cement mixer truck rammed into an EV auto-rickshaw near Jhankar Bandh under Dhanupali police limits in Odisha's Sambalpur district late Wednesday night.

The deceased have been identified as Surendra Behera, the auto-rickshaw driver and a resident of Dhanupali, and his minor daughter, Shubhashree Behera. 

The collision initially left both of them critically injured. They were rescued and shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital. However, doctors declared Shubhashree dead on arrival.

Surendra was later taken to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla. However, family members alleged that no doctor was available in the emergency department at the time. He was later shifted to a private hospital in Burla, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment on Thursday morning.

The driver of the cement mixer truck fled the scene after the accident. Police have launched an investigation, and efforts are underway to trace the absconding driver.