A tragic accident on a busy highway in Odisha's Puri district claimed the lives of two women, including a television journalist, on Tuesday. The fatal incident occurred on the Bhubaneswar-Puri National Highway 316 near Mangalpur.
The Chain of Events Leading to Tragedy
The sequence began earlier in the day when a sand-laden truck overturned on the highway around 10:30 am. This led to a spill of sand across the road near the median. Despite efforts, the sand was not completely cleared. Hours later, at approximately 12:30 pm, journalist Sheela Pattanayak, 40, was riding a scooter with her neighbour, Sipika Nayak, 36.
As Pattanayak navigated the stretch near the spill, the scooter's wheels slipped on the scattered sand. The rider lost control, and both women fell onto the carriageway. In a devastating turn, a passenger bus that was following them could not avoid the fallen duo and ran over them. Both women were killed on the spot.
Police Action and Local Outcry Over Negligence
Pipili police have detained the bus driver for questioning. Puri SP Prateek Singh stated that police are also working to identify the truck driver involved in the initial spill. "Prima facie, negligence on the part of the truck driver led to the accident. Our personnel cleared the sand to prevent further accidents," Singh added.
The incident sparked immediate anger among local residents, who pointed fingers at multiple authorities. Pradyumna Kumar Swain, a resident, accused both the truck driver and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) of gross negligence. He highlighted that sand-laden lorries frequently spill their loads on the highway due to poor regulation and enforcement.
Another resident, Pupun Mohanty, cited poor road conditions as a major contributor to fatal accidents. He demanded that authorities responsible for road maintenance and clearing obstructions be held accountable.
Official Responses and Accountability Measures
In their defence, NHAI officials clarified that their team reached the accident site promptly after the truck overturned at 10:30 am. An NHAI official explained that while the truck was removed to ensure traffic flow, the driver and his staff were instructed to clear the sand themselves. They allegedly failed to remove the entire load and left the site, leaving behind the hazardous material.
Reacting to the incident, State Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur stressed the need for vehicles carrying sand to properly cover their loads to avoid spillage. "We will sensitise enforcement authorities to ensure stricter compliance," Thakur assured, indicating a potential crackdown on such violations.
The tragic deaths of Sheela Pattanayak and Sipika Nayak have once again brought the critical issues of highway safety, regulatory enforcement, and immediate clearance of road hazards into sharp focus in Odisha.
