Three youths of Sundargah district died in a road accident on Thursday afternoon, when their vehicle had a head-on collision with a truck at Kanika-Hemgiri road under Hemgiri police station. Tension prevailed on the spot, as hundreds of locals staged a road blockade, demanding compensation to the family of victim. Sources said at about 12.30 pm on Thursday, three youths aged between 32 and 35 years were coming from Kanika to Hemgiri in a Commander Jeep (OR 15A 4545). Their vehicle had a head- on collision with one truck coming from opposite side, near the Aryan coal washery site.
The deceased were identified as Jatindra Roy (33), Sukru Bhoi (34) and Asraf Khan (32). Ray died on the spot where as other two youths were rushed to the Hemgiri Community Health Centre. Bhoi died at the Hemgiri hospital while Khan died on the way to the Sundargarh District Headquarters Hospital. The driver of the truck fled spot, leaving the vehicle on the spot. "We are discussing with irate locals and attempting to pacify them to vacate spot," said Hemgiri police station IIC Sradhanjali Subudhi. She added both the vehicles were seized and a manhunt was on to arrest the driver of the truck.