Dhenkanal, Mar 25: In a tragic incident, three laborers including a PWD employee died after a speeding truck hit them near Rekula village under Kamakshya Nagar police limits in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district on Tuesday.
According to the information, the incident occurred while the construction work of Rekula road was underway. Among the deceased the Public Works Department (PWD) worker has been identified as Khirod Sahu of Rekula village. The other two victims remain unidentified.
Being informed firefighters and locals rushed to the spot and rescue the labourers.
The incident triggered widespread anger among locals, who accused the contractor overseeing the construction project of gross negligence. They argued that the work was being conducted at night without adequate safety precautions, endangering both workers and commuters. In response to the alleged safety failures, the irate locals staged a protest, blocking the Dhenkanal-Kamakhyanagar highway and setting tyres on fire, which resulted in severe traffic disruptions in the area.
The Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the family of the deceased labourers.
