A young man died after a bus and motorcycle collided head-on near Sanmaheshwar under Khariar block in Nuapada district on Monday morning, triggering public outrage and a highway blockade.
The victim, identified as Arun Majhi of Badamaheshwar village, was riding his bike around 9:30 a.m. when a speeding passenger bus from the opposite direction rammed into him near Sanmaheshwar. The impact killed him instantly.
Following the accident, locals and relatives placed the body on the National Highway and blocked traffic, demanding strict action against the bus driver and compensation for the bereaved family. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the road as tension escalated.
Police and administrative officials rushed to the spot to pacify the crowd. Congress leader Kamal Charan Tandi, Block Chairman Gautam Tandi, SDPO Upendra Pradhan, and local police officers engaged with villagers to restore order.
Authorities provided immediate assistance of ₹20,000 from the Red Cross fund and ₹3,000 from the Sanmaheshwar Sarpanch’s family. Officials assured additional government support and initiated the process to lift the blockade.
Police seized the body and sent it for a post-mortem while launching an investigation into the fatal collision.
