In a shocking incident late Thursday night, a drunk driver of a pickup van hit a cyclist and fled the scene, carrying the severed hand of the victim.
The accident occurred near the Gurdaspur bridge under Raibania police limits in Balasore district, Odisha.
The victim, Purnachandra Mallick, a resident of Gurdaspur, suffered critical injuries in the accident and lost his hand. Reports indicate that reckless driving under the influence of alcohol led to the incident. Purnachandra was initially taken to a local hospital and later shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for better treatment due to the severity of his condition.
In a disturbing turn of events, the driver, identified as Sania Mallick, picked up the severed hand and drove away. His escape was short-lived as locals stopped him near Purunapani, approximately 20 kilometres from the accident site. The locals became suspicious after noticing blood dripping from the vehicle.
Upon being informed, the police reached the spot and detained the driver for questioning. A further probe into the matter is underway.
