What Happened in Hazaribagh That Led to a Newborn and His Aunt Losing Their Lives?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- A tragic road accident claimed two lives in Hazaribagh.
- The victims included a newborn and his aunt.
- Local villagers protested by blocking the highway.
- Authorities are investigating the incident and seeking the responsible driver.
- Demands for better road safety measures are growing in the community.
Hazaribagh, Aug 20 (NationPress) In a heartbreaking incident, a road accident resulted in the loss of a 12-hour-old newborn and his aunt, Poonam Devi, on Wednesday morning along the Ranchi-Patna National Highway near Sirsi village in Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand.
The infant's father, Anil Mahato, suffered severe injuries and was immediately taken to Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital for medical attention.
As per police reports, the baby was born just the previous day, but the mother’s condition was worsening. On Wednesday, Anil was en route to Hazaribagh for a medical check-up for the newborn, accompanied by Poonam Devi, his wife’s sister. Tragically, while they were riding a motorcycle towards the town, a speeding heavy vehicle struck them. Both the newborn and Poonam lost their lives on the spot, while Anil was left critically injured.
This devastating event ignited outrage among local residents, who gathered in large numbers and placed the bodies on the highway to block traffic.
A significant traffic jam extended for several kilometres on the busy Ranchi-Patna NH, with vehicles stuck for nearly three hours.
Officials, including Ichak Circle Officer Ramji Prasad Gupta and Thana In charge Rajdeep, arrived at the scene with additional police personnel to calm the crowd. The villagers demanded strict actions 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 deceased were sent for a post-mortem at Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital.
Local residents expressed concerns that the vicinity of Nagwan Toll Plaza has become notorious for accidents, attributing frequent incidents to disorganized vehicle parking at intersections and inadequate traffic management.
They accused the authorities of negligence and called for immediate measures to enhance road safety.
The devastated family remains inconsolable, and police are actively pursuing the driver responsible for this tragic incident.