Berhampur: A couple was killed after being hit by a car and then run over by a truck while attempting to cross a national highway in Odisha’s Ganjam district Thursday, police said.
The accident happened at Randha in the Golanthara police station area, they said.
Harish Chandra Dash and his wife, Pari, were crossing NH-16 to buy medicines when a speeding car knocked them down. Moments later, a truck ran over them, killing them on the spot, police said.
“We have seized the car and the truck, and efforts are underway to trace the drivers,” SDPO (Berhampur Sadar) Subhranshu Sekhar Parida said.
Following the accident, angry locals blocked NH-16 by burning tyres and refused to allow police to shift the bodies for post-mortem. They demanded adequate compensation for the bereaved family.
The blockade disrupted traffic on the highway, a key link between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, for about an hour.
Kanishi Tahsildar Kabiraj Pradhan reached the spot and persuaded the protesters to withdraw the agitation.
“As per the direction of Ganjam Collector Keerthi Vassan V, an ex gratia of Rs 30,000 each has been provided from the district Red Cross Fund,” the tahsildar said.
After the blockade was lifted, the bodies were sent to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for post-mortem examination.
Orissa POST – Odisha’s No.1 English Daily
