The killer truck at the accident site. Pix: Gautam Dey

Dhanbad, Feb. 3: Three persons were killed and two others injured when a truck lost control following a tyre burst near Govindpur police station on NH-2 this morning.

The incident triggered a blockade on the highway. The vehicle, on its way to Kolkata from Varanasi, bore the registration number of Punjab, PB 04H 9921. The driver of the truck fled the spot.

The deceased have been identified as Maqbul Ansari, 50, of Chirudih village in Tundi, and Liyaqat Ansari, 35, and Meraj Ansari, 20, both residents of Asanbani area in Govindpur. The injured are Mohammed Moin Ansari and Mohammed Mustafa. The two also hail from Asanbani. All victims were labourers.

According to eyewitness, the incident took place around 9.10am. “As the loaded truck hurtled down the road, one of its tyres burst and the driver lost control of the vehicle near Seth Sukhi Ram School. The driver tried to steer the truck towards the road divider, but he was unable to get a grip on the vehicle and it swerved towards the left. Several pedestrians came under it. It also hit a motorcycle parked on the road. The truck turned turtle before coming to a halt,” said an onlooker.

This is the second accident on NH-2 in the past two months. Four persons were killed in the December 12 incident.

Today’s accident triggered large-scale protest by local residents. Hundreds of agitators blocked the road for more than two hours, protesting against frequent accidents on the stretch. They were also angry that instead of bringing ambulances to rush the injured to the hospital, the police reportedly first called cranes to lift the vehicle lying on the road.

The situation spun out of control when the mob suddenly started pelting stones. They smashed the windowpanes of a dumper and a 407 goods carrier. The agitators also allegedly misbehaved with some reporters and the policemen. Police had to fire in the air to control the mob.