Golamunda: Traffic on Dharmagarh-Sinapali route in Kalahandi district was disrupted for over 10 hours after locals blocked a road at Khaliakani protesting the death of a former sarpanch in a road accident and demanding compensation for the bereaved family Saturday.
Shyam Sundar Meher of Khaliakani under this block was talking to a person on Dharmagarh-Sinapali roadside when a speeding van hit them and overturned injuring the driver and vehicle owner inside.
Locals rescued Meher and the other three and admitted them to the Dharmagarh hospital where the doctors pronounced Meher dead.
The mishap sparked tension in the village with the residents putting up the body at the site and staging a road blockade. It disrupted traffic as hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on either side for the road for over 10 hours.
Local Congress leaders and people from various walks of life also joined the stir. They alleged the mishap occurred due to rash driving as the driver and the vehicle owner were drunk.
They demanded Rs 10 lakh financial aid, a house for the bereaved family and educational help for the children of the deceased as well as Rs 5 lakh compensation from the vehicle owner.
Golamunda tehsildar Manisha Das tried to placate the agitators by announcing Rs 10,000 from the District Red Cross Fund but the latter refused to listen and continued with their protest.
They finally relented after Dharmagarh SDPO Surendranath Satpathy assured them in writing that he would look into their demands. “We have apprised the senior authorities and steps would be taken soon,” he added.
PNN
