Bolangir: As many as 10 persons were left with critical injuries after a car ploughed into a crowd here Monday. The driver, who was overspeeding, lost control over the car leading to the incident, onlookers said.
Locals overpowered the driver while he was attempting to flee near Kansaripara Hanuman Temple Chhak and thrashed him. The driver fell unconscious after being mobbed by the locals.
On being alerted, police rescued the driver and admitted him to the district headquarters hospital. Irate over the incident, locals ransacked the car and tried to set it on fire. However, police reached and seized the vehicle. The injured were also admitted to Bolangir district headquarters hospital.
Seven of them were shifted to VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla as their condition worsened. Later, the driver was also sent to VIMSAR as his condition deteriorated after being beaten up by the mob.
According to police, the incident occurred while locals had gathered in Bolangir Masjid Chhak. All of a sudden, a speeding car on its way to Kansaripada rammed into four motorbikes parked alongside the main road. It later ran over more than 10 persons while many others escaped by the skin of their teeth. Many more escaped with light injuries in the mishap, sources said.
The critically injured were identified as Ramakant Patel of Kurul village, Sanjulata Patel, Thanibhusan Singh Majhi of Aenlachuan village, Abdul Shahid of Khaliapali, Sarathi Behera of Kudapali, Rajendra Narayan Pattnaik of Kansaripada and Udav Majhi of Kudopali village in Bargarh district. Two of the injured were yet to be identified.
Police suspected the driver to be in an inebriated state. A police platoon was deployed in the area to maintain law and order. PNN
