Tension gripped the Rourkela area of Sundargarh district on Sunday when local residents turned violent after a fatal road accident claimed the life of a 48-year-old man. The incident triggered massive protests that included assault on the truck driver, damage to police vehicles, and blockade of the busy Gurundia road and NH-143 highway.
What Triggered the Violence?
The tragedy unfolded near Narendra Chowk on NH-143 when Santosh Kumar Nanda, a resident of Jibika village, was run over by a heavy trailer truck. According to police accounts, the sequence of events began around 5 pm when Santosh had visited Narendra Chowk and was returning home.
"Santosh had parked his motorcycle and stepped aside to answer nature's call when a trailer truck coming from Gurundia direction accidentally ran over him," revealed a police officer investigating the case. The immediate aftermath saw local residents rushing to the accident site, their anger quickly escalating beyond control.
Chaos and Destruction Erupt
As news of the fatal accident spread, enraged locals targeted the trailer truck driver who had attempted to flee the scene. Witnessing the growing mob, the driver spotted a police vehicle behind his truck and tried to seek refuge there. However, this provided little protection from the angry crowd.
The situation rapidly deteriorated as protesters overturned the police vehicle and thoroughly ransacked it. They didn't stop there - the truck driver faced severe physical assault from the mob, while a forest department vehicle parked near the accident site also suffered significant damage.
Police Response and Aftermath
Additional police forces rushed to the spot in an attempt to control the volatile situation and pacify the protesters. Meanwhile, local residents intensified their demonstration by blocking the Gurundia road and highway, placing Santosh's body on the roadway as a stark reminder of their loss.
The blockade resulted in significant traffic disruption, with vehicles stranded on both sides of the road for hours. The critically injured truck driver received emergency medical attention, initially being taken to Bonai sub-divisional hospital before being transferred to Rourkela Government Hospital for advanced treatment.
The incident highlights the growing public frustration over road safety issues in the region while raising serious concerns about mob justice taking precedence over legal processes. Local authorities continue to investigate the circumstances that led to both the initial accident and the subsequent violence.
