RANCHI: Three minor girl students of the Bhaskar Saraswati Sishu Mandir were killed when they were run over by a speeding truck near the Surya Mandir, about 40km from here under the Bundu police station area on Tuesday afternoon.
The victims were identified as Reema Kumari (14), Joshna Kumari (12) and Jyoti Kumari (13). They were residents of the Bundu area and died on the spot, police said.
Villagers block NH-33 demanding driver's arrest
Another student, who was sent to Rims in a serious condition, is undergoing treatment.
After the accident, the truck went off the road and overturned. The vehicle driver fled from the spot and turned off his mobile phone.
Villagers rushed to the spot and informed the police, who started a rescue operation and sent the injured to the hospital.
Angered by the incident, the villagers staged a protest with the bodies of the victims and blocked the National Highway-33, demanding the arrest of the driver and compensation to the kin of the victims. Serpentine queues of vehicles were witnessed on the highway following the protest, which continued till late in the evening.
Senior police officers, including SDPO Ajay Kumar, rushed to the spot to persuade the protesters and lift the blockade.
SP (rural) Naushad Alam said, "There is a considerable resentment among the villagers following the accident. We are trying to ensure that the blockade is lifted soon."
Chief minister Hemant Soren expressed grief over the incident and said the administration was providing all possible help to the victims and their families. TNN
