Berhampur: A couple died after they were run over by a truck on National Highway-16 at Randha in Ganjam district on Thursday.The deceased were identified as Harish Chandra Dash, 55, and his wife, Pari Dash, 51, of Randha, police said.The couple was crossing the highway to buy some medicines when a car first hit them and they fell down in the middle of the road. A truck, which was coming from the opposite direction, then ran over both of them and they died on the spot, sources said.The accident led to an hour-long blockade by several locals on the highway. They burnt tyres and demanded adequate compensation for the family members of the deceased and did not allow police to send the bodies for conducting a post-mortem. Vehicular movement on NH-16, which connects Odisha with Andhra Pradesh, was disrupted for about one hour due to the blockade.Police officials from Golanthara and tehsildar Kanishi Kabiraj Pradhan rushed to the spot and tried to convince the protestors. “As per the direction of the Ganjam collector, Keerthi Vassan V, we have provided Rs 30,000 to each of the deceased from the district Red Cross Fund,” the tehsildar said. Subhranshu Sekhar Parida, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Berhampur sadar, said the vehicles have been seized. The drivers, however, managed to flee the spot. The bodies have been sent for a post-mortem at MKCG Medical College. Further inquiry is underway, he added.
