Puri: Tension prevailed at busy Bada Danda stretch in Odisha’s Puri town on Friday following the death of a five-year-old boy in an accident.
The victim has been identified as Sreyansh Dey, a resident of Puri town.
According to sources, the mishap occurred near Balgandi Chhak when an SUV allegedly rear-ended a scooter in which the child was travelling with his grandfather. Both sustained severe injuries in the crash and were rushed to district headquarters hospital here, where the boy succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
In the aftermath, enraged locals staged a protest at Medical Chhak, burning tyres and blocking traffic while demanding compensation for the bereaved family and stricter traffic enforcement on the busy stretch. Family members also joined the agitation, briefly placing the child’s body on the road. The disruption continued until senior police officers, including Puri SP Prateek Singh, reached the spot and pacified the agitators.
Kumbharpada police have seized the vehicle and detained the driver for interrogation. Further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased.
