Bhubaneswar Residents Stage Road Blockade on NH-57 Demanding Justice After Fatal Hoarding Collapse
In a powerful display of public outrage, locals in Bhubaneswar brought traffic to a standstill on National Highway 57 for more than an hour on Wednesday. The protest erupted in response to the tragic deaths of two individuals, who lost their lives after a hoarding collapsed on them due to strong gusty winds in the Aiginia area on Tuesday. This incident left hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the busy highway, causing significant disruption.
Victims Identified as Driver and Student, Community Demands Accountability
The deceased have been identified as Tuna Gowda, 38, a driver, and Sachitananda Pradhan, 19, a student. Protesters, armed with placards and raising slogans, completely blocked the road, preventing any vehicles from passing through. They voiced their anger and frustration, calling for immediate accountability and stringent action against those responsible for the alleged negligence that led to the hoarding's collapse.
Itishree Das, a local resident, expressed the community's anguish, stating, "We repeatedly urged local authorities to remove the unsafe hoarding. But no action was taken, and there was a fatal consequence. The particular advertiser must be booked and punished." This sentiment echoed among the crowd, highlighting long-standing concerns over public safety ignored by officials.
Details of the Tragic Incident Emerge, Highlighting Negligence
Rakesh Patro, the Zonal Deputy Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), provided details on the circumstances. He explained that Sachitananda Pradhan was waiting for his father to pick him up near the hoarding, while Tuna Gowda was sipping tea at a nearby stall. "The student was waiting when a nor'wester blew off the iron frame, which fell on him," Patro added, describing the sudden and devastating impact of the weather event.
The tragedy was compounded by the delayed discovery of the teen's body. His father, upon arriving at the spot, could not find his son and later went to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where Gowda's body was kept, but still did not locate him. "After a frantic effort, the body was recovered under the collapsed iron frame," Das recounted, underscoring the traumatic ordeal faced by the family.
Police Intervention and Government Response to the Crisis
In response to the blockade, police forces and traffic personnel were deployed in large numbers to restore order and pacify the protesters. DCP Jagmohan Meena reported, "The blockade was lifted soon. Traffic was regulated to decongest the road," ensuring that normalcy was gradually restored on NH-57.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his condolences for the deaths and announced a compensation package. In an X post, the Chief Minister's Office stated, "For the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 4 lakh each is announced to be paid," offering financial support to the grieving families. However, protesters emphasized that monetary compensation alone is insufficient without concrete action against those accountable for the negligence.
This incident has sparked broader discussions about public safety and regulatory oversight in Bhubaneswar, with locals demanding stricter enforcement to prevent such tragedies in the future.
