In a road accident reported from Dehradun district, a 55- year-old woman and her son aged around 24 died when the bicycle they were on was hit by a car, speeding from the opposite direction, at National Highway in Sahaspur area on Tuesday. The deceased have been identified as Surajpal and Magdu Devi, residents of Sabhawala, Sahaspur.

Angered over the mishap, in particular, and the increasing cases of road accidents in the area, mainly due to reckless driving and alleged administration’s lackadaisical approach,  hundreds of local residents protested and shouted anti-administration slogans.

They said that rash driving, untrained persons on the wheels and the deplorable road conditions are among the factors that have led to the rise in fatal accidents in the area. They slammed the administration for its apathy in tackling the matter. 

Eyewitness said that the Utility was running in full speed on the highway when the mishap occurred.  The driver lost control while negotiating a pot hole and the car rammed into the bicycle that was coming from the opposite direction. Cycle rider Surajpal and his pillion Magdu Devi were seriously injured. 

The accident occurred around 9.15 am near lakhanwala crossing under Sahaspur police station area. The local residents informed police and with the help of 108 Ambulance, both were rushed to the local hospital. Both died soon after being admitted. 

With postmortem being conducted, police handed over the bodies to the family. A police officer said both were daily workers and were going to the city to work. Highway officials were informed and the hole was filled up, he added. Several cases of road accidents were reported from different parts of Dehradun district in December.

On December 26, two bike- borne persons died when they were hit by a truck, at Jassowala, in Sahaspur.On December 22, Panditwari (Cantt) in-charge and sub-inspector DP Bahuguna died after he was hit by a two-wheeler, speeding from the opposite direction, at Panditwari.At least ten persons, including three women, died and two others were serioulsy injured in a road accident at Haiyo Tangri Village, Vikasnagar on December 10.

The accident occurred when a Tata Sumo skidded off the road and slipped into 150 metres deep gorge at Purori, Vikasnagar. On December 9, a scooty- borne person died in Nehru Colony while he was hit by a truck. On December 2, a Scooty- borne woman died when she was hit by a truck in Vikansagar, it is learnt.