In Odisha, eight people were killed and seven sustained injuries after the vehicle they were travelling in rammed into a parked truck from behind on NH-20 near Balijodi under Ghatagaon police station of Keonjhar district this morning. All the dead persons and injured belonged to two families and were on the way to Ghatagaon from their native place in Digapahandi of Ganjam district to offer puja at Maa Tarini temple. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has declared an ex-gratia compensation of three lakh rupees to the next of kin of the deceased.<br />''<br />''Incidentally the tragic mishap occurred on the first day of Zero fatality Week, a campaign launched by the Odisha transport department to curb road accident deaths.