ANGUL: Five persons, including a minor boy, were killed after an autorickshaw collided head-on with a speeding truck on NH-53 near Patharakhumba under Kamakhyanagar police station in Dhenkanal district on Sunday.
The deceased were identified as Adikand Samal (48), Prahlad Samal (45), Ankur Samal (54) and his son, Divya Ranjan Samal (13), and auto driver Ananta Samal (35). All the deceased hailed from Bangura village.
The autorickshaw was taking four passengers to Muktapasi when the truck coming from the opposite side hit it. The impact was so hard that the auto was dragged by the truck a few metres from the spot. The driver and helper of the truck fled from the spot after the accident.
Following the accident, hundreds of locals blocked NH-53 demanding compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. However, they called off the strike after the police met the protesters. The chief minister has announced Rs 1 lakh each as compensation,” said Kamakhyanagar police station inspector in-charge Sarat Mahalik.
“We have registered a case in connection with the accident. The driver and helper will be nabbed soon,” said Mahalik.
Kamakhyanagar sub-divisional police officer Ranjan Kumar Dey said, We are investigating the case. The accident occurred because the auto driver was driving on the wrong side of the road. We have identified the truck owner and are conducting raids at different places to nab him and the helper.”
Dhenkanal collector Saroj Kumar Sethy said Rs 1 lakh each will be provided from the chief minister’s relief fund as ex gratia to the victims’ kin. “On behalf of district Red Cross society, we will also give Rs 25,000 each to the families of the deceased,” he added.
Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended in Bangura after the five bodies arrived for cremation. All villagers took part in the funeral procession, sources said.
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