BHADRAK: In a tragic incident, at least five students, including three girls, were run over by a speeding truck while four others sustained grievous injuries near Thana Chhack on NH-16 in Bhadrak district on Thursday.
Police sources said the mishap occurred at around 4.15 pm when the students were returning from their school. The truck hit them from behind killing four on the spot. The injured students were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital where one succumbed to her injuries. Another student was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack after her condition deteriorated.
The students were studying in Class IX in Ranital High School and one among them has been identified as Priyambada Mohanty. They were walking along the roadside after crossing the highway, said an eye-witness.
As the news of the accident spread, irate locals set the vehicle on the fire while its driver and helper are absconding. Vehicular movement was disrupted as the locals blocked the highway demanding adequate compensation.
Locals alleged that the mishap occurred due to rash driving and the driver of the vehicle was drunk. “Students always cross the highway risking their lives. Though we have been demanding a bumper at the
Square to check the speed of vehicles, the NHAI authorities have turned a deaf ear,” claimed a local resident.
Bhadrak Collector Gyana Ranjan Das and SP B Gangadhar have visited the spot and hospital where the injured are undergoing treatment. “Locals have blocked the highway after the mishap and efforts are on to disperse the crowd. I have asked the local police to locate the driver,” said the SP.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed grief over death of the students in the road accident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for next of kin of the victims. He has asked the district administration to arrange free treatment for the injured students.