5 students mowed down by truck in Bhadrak

In a highly tragic mishap, as many as five students were killed while four others suffered critical injuries after they were run over by a speeding truck near Rahanja on National Highway-16 in Bhadrak district on Thursday.

The deceased children were identified as Priyabrata Mohanty, Sataybrata Barik, Sweta Sahoo, Sukant Sahoo and Kalpana Jena.

The victims were Class-VIII and Class-IX students of the Ranitel High School. The incident occurred at around 4 pm when the students were returning from the school. While four students died at the spot, another  succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.

As the school is located close to the NH, the students reportedly cross the busy junction by risking their lives daily. Locals alleged that the tragedy occurred due to the rash driving of the speeding 10-wheeler truck.

Angry over the incident, locals set fire to the truck while its driver and helper fled from the spot abandoning the vehicle.

The locals staged a road blockade demanding compensation for those killed in the incident. Till filing of the report, police rushed to the spot and were trying to pacify the irate crowd.

Later, expressing grief over the accident and the death of schoolchildren, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of the deceased and free medical treatment for the injured.

Transport Minister Nrusingha Sahu said the incident would be investigated and action would be taken against the guilty.