Boudh: In a bizarre incident, the driver of a Mahaprayan vehicle carrying a student’s body slept on the road under the influence of alcohol Sunday night and the body had to be taken in an auto-rickshaw.
According to sources, Pratyush Kanhar (15), a Class X student of Baghiapada Mendhimal Seva Ashram and son of Sadhu Kanhar of Bargochapada village under this block was suffering from sickle-cell anaemia. A few days back, the school authorities sent him home after his condition worsened instead of admitting him to a hospital.
Later, family members admitted him to Boudh district headquarters hospital for treatment. However, he succumbed to the deadly disease Sunday night. The family sought a Mahaprayan vehicle to take the body to his village as they couldn’t meet the charges of the private ambulances. The vehicle arrived after hours and the family left for their village.
But the miserable plight of the family didn’t end here. The driver of the vehicle was found in a drunken state and not in a mood to move. After a few minutes of leaving the DHH, the Mahaprayan vehicle hit a Bolero and its driver fell from the vehicle on the road in an unconscious state. Family members tried to wake him up but in vain. Left with no option, Pratyush’s family hired an auto-rickshaw and reached the village.
On being alerted, the district collector Madhusudan Mishra sent a teacher of the school to the spot who paid Rs 3,000 for the auto fare and Rs 2,000 for the last rites.
Later, the driver’s family members reached there and took him home, it was known. Based on a complaint lodged by the CDMO Sadanand Mishra, police registered a case while the driver was placed under suspension, it was learnt. PNN
