Chatra: A fatal road accident involving a coal-laden truck has led to a prolonged blockade and rising tension in Jharkhand’s Chatra district, officials said on Thursday.
The protest has stretched beyond 30 hours, with villagers continuing their sit-in demonstration while keeping the victim’s body at the site, pressing for compensation and stricter traffic regulations.
The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon near Karo village under Piparwar police station limits. The victim, Uresh Lohar alias Suresh Lohra from Chiraiyatand Tola, died instantly after being struck by an uncontrolled heavy vehicle.
Enraged by the incident, local residents immediately blocked the Tandwa–Piparwar main road. Even after the postmortem, the body has not been taken for last rites and remains at the protest site as a mark of dissent.
Villagers allege that reckless movement and poor regulation of coal transport vehicles have made the route accident-prone. They have been raising concerns over frequent mishaps in the area.
Among their key demands are ₹20 lakh compensation for the bereaved family, a separate route for heavy vehicles, implementation of a no-entry rule on the main road, and strict checks on overloading.
Dilip Kumar Ambasht, a representative of Chatra MP Kalicharan Singh, visited the spot and interacted with the protesters, assuring them that he would escalate the issue with the authorities.
However, no senior officials from the administration or transport department had reached the site till the filing of this report, leaving the situation unresolved.
The extended road blockade has resulted in long queues of vehicles on both sides, disrupting traffic significantly. With increased movement due to the ongoing wedding season, commuters are facing considerable hardship and are being diverted to alternate routes.
Villagers remain firm on their stance, warning that the protest will not be called off until their demands are fulfilled. The situation continues to remain tense.
With inputs from IANS