The death of an elderly woman in a road mishap triggered tension at Godhibasa near the Baleswar railway station on Tuesday.
Infuriated over the reckless driving and negligence by a truck driver, a mob went on the rampage and vandalised over 70 trucks parked in the nearby Malgodown area. Properties in the local truck owners’ association office were also ransacked by the mob.
According to sources, a truck while being reversed hit the elderly woman killing her on the spot.
“My sister was standing when she was run over by the truck. There was no helper to guide the driver while the
latter was reversing the heavy vehicle,” said a relative of the deceased. Following the incident, locals also burnt tyres and staged a road blockade demanding compensation for the deceased’s kin.
“Truck drivers use to operate their vehicles under the influence of alcohol while several drivers are even minors. We want such dangerous violations of rules to be curbed immediately,” said a local resident.
Senior police officials on the other hand informed that already financial assistance of Rs 10,000 had been sanctioned for the family of the deceased from the Red Cross Fund. Besides, the concerned traffic police officials have been asked to check violation of the traffic rules by the drivers and also to check drunken driving.
“We are investigating the matter; and the truck involved in the accident has been identified. We will soon nab the errant driver,” said Jayant Behera, a police officer.