Bhubaneswar, May 13: The death of a senior citizen in an accident in front of Capital Hospital today sparked a minor tension.
The deceased, Gandharba Swain, 64, had come to the state-run hospital with money for his grandson's treatment.
Witnesses said Swain was walking to the hospital when a SUV hit him. "He was taken to Capital Hospital where he was declared received dead," said a witness.
Police said that Swain's grandson was admitted at the hospital's medicine ward a few days ago. "He was coming to see my son and I had also asked him to bring some money. He had told me that he would reach in the morning. I called him when he didn't turn up, but he did not receive. Later, I learnt of the accident," his son Girish said.
Passers by detained the SUV's driver. Police later seized the vehicle and arrested the driver, Sakti Swarup Mohapatra, 23. They said the vehicle belonged to a member of the BJP's youth organisation. They also said the driver was alone when the accident took place.
The intersection near the hospital has witnessed frequent accidents because of the narrow outlet that connects the traffic square to the hospital.
"While all three roads leading from the intersection are double-lane, the stretch leading to the hospital is narrow. There is heavy traffic in peak hours, making the stretch congested," said Apurba Das, a commuter.
Police said negligent driving caused mishaps at the traffic junction.
"The intersection is among the most important ones in the city and that is why we deploy adequate personnel to regulate traffic," said a police officer.