Road mishap: Mob sets two trucks on fire in Bolangir

Bolangir: Tension erupted near Shiv Temple chhak in the town after a mob set two trucks on fire protesting death of a local resident in a road accident.

According to sources, one Gopal Mishra of Gandhipada was mowed down by a truck while riding a bike near Shiv temple chhak yesterday night.

Following the incident, a group of irate locals staged a protest near the chhak and also torched two trucks parked nearby. Vehicular movement was hit for several hours in the area due to the tension.

Being informed, police arrived at the spot to pacify the angry residents. However, the locals also had a scuffle with the police.

Meanwhile, following the incident, the demand for a bypass through the area have intensified. Locals demanded that a bypass road should be constructed to minimise the traffic rush and reduce accidents.

"If the bypass road is not constructed soon, protests will intensify in the coming days. We urge political leaders to come and hold discussions to establish the structure at the earliest," said Gopalji Panigrahy, convenor of Bolangir Action Committee.