Dhenkanal: The annual sports meet of Satyam Shivam Sundaram College in this district turned sour Monday as a girl student of the institution was run over by a bus at Baghalunda Square on National Highway-55 under Motanga policy limits. The deceased was identified as Ipsita Baral of Belapada village. She was a Plus-II first-year student. The mishap occurred when Ipsita was on her way to attend the sports meet as a pillion rider on a scooter with one of her kin. The two fell from the two-wheeler as a bus carrying the staff of a local company hit them at Baghalunda Square. Locals rushed the two in critical condition to the district headquarters hospital here.
However, doctors pronounced Ipsita dead on arrival. Her relative is currently undergoing treatment. A pall of gloom descended on the college after news of Ipsita’s death spread. The mishap sparked tension in the area as irate students staged a roadblock on the highway. They demanded Rs 50 lakh compensation for Ipsita’s family. The roadblock disrupted traffic on the highway as many vehicles were left stranded. The movement of vehicles between Dhenkanal and Angul was also affected. The students called off their protests only after SDPO Suryamani Pradhan and Motanga IIC Niranjan Sethi reached the spot and held talks with them. The students alleged that fly ash powder being used for road expansion on the highway has reduced visibility leading to accidents. They held the NHAI authorities responsible for the mishap
