Puri: A woman’s right arm got crushed under the wheels of a bus in a road accident on Nabakalebara Road here Tuesday.
The victim, Sarada Rath (59), wife of Suryanarayan Rath of Madhuban area, was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack after preliminary treatment at the district headquarters hospital (DHH) here.
Sources said the accident occurred when Sarada was travelling to the DHH for a routine health check-up as a pillion passenger on a scooter her husband was riding. She fell off the scooter due to a massive jerk when after the two-wheeler rolled on a pothole. A city-bound private bus speeding from behind hit Sarada, and her right arm from below the elbow got crushed under its wheels, sources said.
Locals came to the help of a critically injured Sarada and rushed her to the DHH. An eyewitness said she would have lost her life by being crushed under the bus if her husband had not pulled her out in time to the side of the road immediately after she fell off the scooter.
Traffic remained suspended on the road for nearly two hours as angry locals ransacked the bus. On being informed, officials of Kumbharpada police station reached the spot and pacified the irate residents. Police later seized the bus.
The locals blamed the heavy traffic and potholes on Nabakalebara Road for the mishap. “All the vehicles from cities like Cuttack and Bhubaneswar enter the holy town through Nabakalebara Road, which caused traffic rush at most hours. Potholes on such a busy road are also responsible for frequent accidents,” said Rakesh Sahu, a local resident. PNN
