Rourkela: An irate mob interrupted vehicular movement and staged a roadblock on NH-149, near Biramitrapur Sunday night as one person was run over by a tractor-trailer and died on the spot.
The deceased has been identified as Budhu Jaipuria (36). He was a contractual staff of Birmitrapur Municipality. Police said Monday, that they are trying to nab the driver who fled the spot after the accident.
Police said Jaipuria was walking to the local market to buy household items when the accident occurred. As the roads were empty, the driver of the speeding trailer lost control of the vehicle and mowed down Jaipuria who died on the spot.
Locals then got into the act demanding punishment of the driver and compensation for the family of the deceased. Despite traffic being sparse due to Diwali celebrations, more than 100 trucks got stranded on both sides of the highway due to the protests, a witness to the entire incident, said.
Locals said the road blockade continued for more than four hours and went on till around 10.00pm in the night. However, Biramitrapur IIC Ashish Kumar Jena contradicted the news.
“The road blockade lasted for just an hour. We persuaded the crowd to end the protests and have also told them we are on the lookout for the absconding driver,” Jena said. The NH- 149 passes through the border town of Biramitrapur.
However, portions of the highway are in precarious condition. Locals said Monday that accidents occur regularly due to the pitiable condition of the road. They added that despite repeated complaints to the concerned authorities nothing has been done to repair the damaged portions of the highway. Accidents are due to the road condition they asserted.
PNN
