Bolangir, Nov 3: Tension ran high after a woman was killed on Bolangir- Sonepur National Highway-57 after being hit by a goods-laden truck near Puintala block office in this district Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Arulata Sahu (32), wife of Kailash Chandra Sahu, and a native of Sadanandpur village in Kendrapara district. Sahu was working as a supervisor in a local voluntary organisation while her husband works in Yubodaya College in the town.
The mishap occurred when Sahu was returning home on her scooty. A pipe-laden truck from the rear crushed her near Puintala block office.
The truck driver tried to flee the scene but had to stop near the Bolangir-Sudapada railway level crossing due to closure of the gate. The driver tried to jump out of the vehicle in an escape bid but was overpowered by the police.
The mishap triggered tension in the area with locals chasing the truck and setting it afire demanding compensation to the bereaved family.
Fire brigade personnel tried to douse the flames but the irate people pelted stones and brickbats at them and drove them away from the mishap site.
Later, sub-collector Bimal Prasad Mohanty, SDPO Narayan Nayak and Town police IIC Prasant Pattnaik reached the spot with additional forces and drove away the irate mob. The fire personnel were again called in but by that time the vehicle was completely damaged. PNN