Rayagada: Two people were killed and another sustained critical injuries after a scooter reportedly suffered brake failure and crashed into an electric pole while returning from a temple visit in Odisha's Rayagada district on Friday.

The deceased have been identified as Sasmita Panda, a dance teacher from Gunupur town and a President's Award-winning dance guru, and Shambhunath Das, a resident of Rajakanika in Kendrapara district.

According to reports, Sasmita Panda had gone to the Shiva temple at Shephali Hills near Gunupur along with two associates on a scooter. While returning from the temple, the scooter's brakes allegedly failed, causing the vehicle to lose control and collide with an electric pole. All three riders sustained serious injuries in the accident.

After receiving information, local residents and emergency responders rescued the injured and shifted them to the Gunupur Sub-Divisional Hospital in a 108 ambulance.

Shambhunath Das succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the hospital. Sasmita Panda was referred to a higher medical facility due to her critical condition but died on the way near Paralakhemundi. The third injured person has been shifted to Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment and remains in critical condition.

The tragic incident has cast a pall of gloom over Gunupur, where Sasmita Panda was widely respected for her contributions to classical dance. She was a recipient of the President's Award and ran a dance institution in the town.

Sources said two auditors—one from Kolkata and another from Odisha—had recently arrived in Gunupur to conduct an audit of her dance institution. Panda had taken them on a sightseeing trip to Shephali Hills when the accident occurred.

Gunupur police have registered a case and launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident. Preliminary information suggests that brake failure may have led to the crash.