Basudevpur: A 13-year-old schoolboy was killed Sunday afternoon after being hit by a speeding truck near Betada Bazaar on the Basudevpur-Dhamara road in Bhadrak district.
The victim, Debaditya Behera, son of Debendra Behera from Harisaranbindha village under Aruha panchayat, was a student of Prashanti Shishu Bihar School in Betada.
According to police, he was returning home on a bicycle when the truck struck him from behind. He was fi rst rushed to Basudevpur Hospital in critical condition and later referred to Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), where he succumbed to his injuries.
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Following the incident, hundreds of locals staged a roadblock by burning tyres at Harisaranbindha Square near Betada Bazaar, demanding justice and improved safety measures.
Officials including SDPO Bichitrananda Sethi, Tehsildar Priyabrata Das, IIC Lopamudra Nayak, Block Chairman Nagendra Biswal and Sarpanch Gobinda Mallick reached the spot and attempted to pacify the agitated crowd.
As per the District Collector’s directive, the Tehsildar handed over Rs 20,000 as assistance to the bereaved family from the district Red Cross fund.
Officials also promised to construct a speed breaker at the accident site, after which the blockade was lifted. The truck involved in the accident was seized and held at Basudevpur police station.
PNN
