What Happened in Hazaribagh? Newborn and Aunt Die in Road Mishap

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two lives lost in a tragic road accident.
- Villager protests highlight community outrage.
- Call for justice and compensation for the bereaved family.
- Urgent need for road safety reforms in accident-prone areas.
- Authorities are investigating the incident and the driver responsible.
Hazaribagh, Aug 20 (NationPress) In a heartbreaking incident, a road accident resulted in the deaths of a 12-hour-old infant and his aunt, Poonam Devi, on Wednesday morning along the Ranchi-Patna National Highway close to Sirsi village in Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand.
The child's father, Anil Mahato, suffered severe injuries and was quickly transported to the Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital for urgent care.
As per police reports, the newborn was delivered on Tuesday, but his mother’s condition was worsening. On Wednesday, Anil was taking the baby to Hazaribagh for a medical assessment, accompanied by his wife’s sister, Poonam Devi. While they were riding a motorcycle towards the town, a speeding heavy vehicle collided with them. Both the infant and Poonam lost their lives instantly, while Anil was left critically hurt.
This tragic event ignited outrage among locals, who gathered in significant numbers and placed the bodies on the highway, causing a traffic blockage.
A lengthy traffic jam extended for several kilometers along the busy Ranchi-Patna NH as vehicles were immobilized for nearly three hours.
Officials, including Ichak Circle Officer Ramji Prasad Gupta and Thana In charge Rajdeep, hurried to the scene with additional police to calm the crowd. The villagers demanded stringent action against the driver responsible and fair compensation for the grieving family.
Following assurances from the authorities, the blockade was lifted, and traffic began to flow again. The bodies were sent for a post-mortem examination at Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital.
Local residents expressed concerns that the area near the Nagwan Toll Plaza has turned into a hazardous zone, citing frequent accidents due to improper vehicle parking at intersections and inadequate traffic management.
They attributed the situation to administrative negligence and called for immediate measures to enhance road safety.
The bereaved family remains devastated, while police are actively working to identify and apprehend the negligent driver.