Tension in Odisha’s Sundargarh after youth dies in road mishap; kin stage protest

Tension ran high in Champapada village under Dharuadihi police limits in Odisha’s Sundargarh district after a youth was crushed to death under a speeding cement mixer vehicle. Irate kin of the deceased staged a road blockade by placing the body on the road, leading to disruption of the movement of vehicular traffic.

Angry villagers staged a protest by placing the body on the main road and stopping the movement of all vehicles passing through that way. It is now for the past 12 hours hundreds of vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the road near the village.

The deceased has been identified as Santosh Sunani. According to sources, Santosh was near the village road when a speeding cement mixer vehicle ran over him, leading to his death on the spot.

The incident triggered outrage as villagers staged a protest demanding strict action against the accused driver and adequate compensation for the kin of the deceased. On being informed, local police rushed to the spot and tried to bring the situation under control.

However, the protestors refused to call off the protest and continued their agitation. The agitation has been going on for the last 12 hours, reports said.