An elderly man died in a tragic road accident at Hatibari Chhak under Jujumura police limits on National Highway 55, and the incident immediately sparked public outrage, with villagers blocking the highway for two hours.
The victim, Baisakhu Pradhan (62) of Badamal village, rode his motorcycle (OD-15 Q 6582) when a truck (CG-04 NP 1475) coming from Sambalpur towards Cuttack hit him. The truck crushed him under its wheels. Locals quickly rushed him to Hatibari Medical and later to the district headquarters hospital, but doctors declared him dead.
After the accident, villagers blocked the highway and demanded urgent safety measures. Soon, senior officials, including Ashok Panda (NH Authority), Prashant Meher (SDPO, Redhakhol), Tahsildar Prabhas Budha, and police officers Sanjay Routray, Anita Patnaik, and Sanjay Sahu reached the spot to pacify the protesters.
Consequently, authorities gave a written assurance that by Tuesday, temporary service roads would be constructed on both sides of the highway. Moreover, they promised to install signboards and speed breakers to reduce accidents. Within a month, they committed to submit a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for permanent bridge and road construction.
Finally, villagers lifted the blockade after officials assured quick action. Jujumura police conducted the post-mortem and handed over the body to the family.
This incident underscores recurring safety concerns on National Highway 55. Furthermore, it highlights the urgent need for infrastructure improvements to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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