In a bone-chilling incident, as many as three passengers were crushed to death while six others have been left battling for their lives after an over-speeding car of a Lady inspector rammed into an auto-rickshaw on Sonepur-Bolangir National Highway-57 near Badabahali square in Sonepur district on Tuesday.
The deceased were labourers and were on their way to Raghavpali to sell vegetable saplings. The six injured have been admitted to Sonepur and Bolangir district headquarter hospitals. One of them was referred to Burla-based Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) after his condition worsened.
Swinging into action, police detained the lady cop identified as Snigdharani Suna from Bolangir while she was trying to flee. Her driver has also been arrested.
"The accident occurred while Snigdharani, who was deployed in Puri for Ratha Yatra was en route to Sundargarh. Her driver was driving the car and hit the auto-rickshaw," Sonepur SP Amaresh Panda said.
“The mishap occurred at around 6.30 am today on Bolangir-Sonepur National Highway-57 at Badabahali chhak. The auto-rickshaw was en route to Sonepur from Bolangir when a Maruti Ertiga coming from the opposite direction hit it,” Panda said.
“From the skid marks, it is evident that the car was moving on the wrong side and hit the auto-rickshaw. The driver of the car was at fault. Three occupants of the auto-rickshaw died on the spot after the collision while five others were critically injured,” he added.
The SP said the owner of the car bearing registration number OD16J 1355 is Snigdharani Suna, an inspector posted in Sundargarh district.
“The woman inspector was travelling in the car while her driver was driving. They fled the spot after the mishap. We have already held a discussion with her posting authorities-Rourkela SP, DIG Rourkela. We will nab the driver soon,” Panda assured.
The incident sparked outrage as locals staged a road blockade demanding necessary compensation for the bereaved families and the arrest of the woman cop. Vehicular movements came to a standstill for four hours. Later, Sonepur sub-collector and SP reached the spot and pacified the mob.
Panda, who held a discussion with the protestors, said, “The district administration will ensure that the families of the deceased get compensation at the earliest.”
“The deceased are survived by innocent children. Who will now take care of them? The government should take immediate steps to rehabilitate the children orphaned due to the accident,” said Ratan Pradhan, a relative of one of the deceased.
“We were lucky enough to survive as we were coming in another auto-rickshaw. The car came from the wrong side and hit the vehicle, killing my fellow villagers,” said an inconsolable Lipun Mishra, a relative of the injured.