Rupsa: A tribal woman died Tuesday in a road accident that took place near Patapur bazaar under Rupsa police station limits in Balasore district. The deceased was identified as Jhampudi Singh (59), a resident of Lachhamanakhu village under Gadapada panchayat. As per information received from the police, Jhampudi had come to a bank here to collect her monthly pension along with her son Kalicharan on a cycle. While returning from the bank, a truck hit the cycle from the rear leaving both Jhampudi and her son severely injured.
Locals rushed Jhampudi to the Rupsa community health centre where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival. An irate mob then detained the driver and seized the vehicle demanding compensation for Jhampudi’s family. They blocked the road with the body of the deceased leading to a traffic snarl. A number of police and district administration officials reached the spot and tried to pacify the agitators.
However, they relented only after financial assistance of Rs 10,000 from Red Cross, Rs 10,000 each from the truck owners association and the driver, and Rs 5,000 from the warehouse owner were provided to the family of the deceased. The locals withdrew the agitation around 5.00 pm. Police have registered a case in this regard and started an investigation after sending the body for post-mortem. Locals alleged that due to the presence of illegal warehouses in the locality, trucks overspeed on the roads.
