A tragic road accident claimed the life of a senior citizen in Bihar's Samastipur district on Saturday, leading to massive public outrage and a major highway blockade. The incident occurred in the Dalsinghsarai area, where a 65-year-old man was fatally struck by a truck.
Highway Blocked in Protest After Fatal Hit
News of the accident spread quickly, igniting anger among local residents. They gathered at Sardarganj Chowk and blocked the crucial National Highway 28 (NH-28) for approximately three hours. In their fury, the demonstrators dismantled police barricades and even chased away some police personnel present at the scene initially.
The protest turned violent when the crowd targeted a municipal garbage collection vehicle, pelting it with stones and breaking its windscreen. The primary demand of the agitators was the immediate removal of a fish market located near the chowk. They argued that the market is a persistent cause of severe traffic congestion and frequent accidents in the area.
Police Intervention and Official Statement
Law and order was restored after a police team, led by Dalsinghsarai Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Vivek Kumar Sharma, arrived and intervened. Speaking on the incident, SDPO Sharma provided details of the police response and the preliminary findings.
"The deceased's body was taken into custody and sent for post-mortem. The truck involved in the accident was seized," stated SDPO Sharma. He confirmed that initial investigations suggest the elderly victim, identified as Uttam Prasad, a resident of Madhepur Ward No. 13 under Nagargama Panchayat, was cycling to the local market when the truck hit him. He died on the spot.
Administration's Response and Ongoing Probe
The police official also addressed the protesters' grievances. "Locals requested removal of the barricades and improvement of the traffic system, which is being considered by the administration," SDPO Sharma added. However, he made it clear that those involved in the stone-pelting and disrupting traffic would not be spared. "Those involved in stone-pelting and traffic disruption are being identified and action will be taken," he asserted.
Following the three-hour-long agitation, police personnel managed to clear the highway and restore normal traffic flow. The investigation into the exact circumstances of the accident is currently underway. The administration is now faced with the dual task of ensuring road safety and addressing the long-standing issue of the fish market's location, which locals blame for creating hazardous conditions.
