Ranchi, March 1: A three-year-old girl was crushed under the wheels of a crane truck at Hari Nagar, half a kilometre from Tatisilwai police station, prompting a two-hour blockade this afternoon.

Archana Kumari was on her way to a local temple from her father’s grocery store around noon when she was run over by the heavy vehicle coming from Khel Gaon in Hotwar.

“The crane operator could not see the little girl coming towards the vehicle because he was perched high. The child came under the left wheel and died on the spot,” a local resident said.

The incident has left the Tatisilwai locality shocked on the eve of Shivratri. Sources said Archana was going to the temple to participate in preparations for the festival.

Soon after the incident, a group of angry residents blocked the Tatisilwai-Khel Gaon road, 15km from the district headquarters. They demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and speed breakers at regular intervals on the road.

The blockade, which started around 12.30pm, was lifted two hours later after officer in charge of Tatisilwai police station Srinivas assured the protesters that damages would be paid for the accident.

The officer said crane operator Sanjay Mahto had surrendered and an FIR had been registered. “He was chased by local residents and he surrendered apprehending mob attack,” he added.

The crane truck belongs to Gopal Crane Service. Police said proprietor Gopal Mahto would have to compensate for the death of the child.