People stage a roadblock after the accident in Sambalpur on Saturday. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur. Aug. 3: Tension gripped the city after a truck hit a girl to death at Putibandh in the Dhanupali police limits today.

The deceased has been identified as Itishree Dhar, a Class IX student of Sri Ganesh Girls’ High School of Dhanupali. The accident took place around at 9.30am.

An eyewitness said: “Itishree was on her way back home at Sindurpankh on the outskirts of the city, while the accident took place. A truck, which was coming from the opposite side, hit her at Putibandh. Itishree died on the spot and the driver fled.”

A mob set the vehicle afire and blocked the accident site, which connects the Sambalpur-Cuttack National Highway with the Mumbai-Calcutta National Highway, for more than four hours, demanding compensation and stringent action against the truck driver.

Local people also demanded not to allow heavy vehicles on the road during peak hours. Besides, they wanted a bypass road for the heavy vehicles.

“There are several educational institutions in this area. Students commute through this road. The movement of heavy vehicles should not be allowed here during peak hours. The heavy vehicles should also be prohibited from entering the city during day time,” said Chandrakanta Panda, a protester.

“We want police to arrest the culprit. Adequate compensation should be given to the family of the deceased, who was the only daughter of her parents,” said another agitator.

The police and the district administration officials rushed to the spot to persuade the agitators to withdraw the roadblock.

Sambalpur deputy collector Nihar Ranjan Dash said: “The roadblock was lifted after discussion. An amount of Rs 10,000 from the Red Cross fund has been given to the deceased’s family. We have also assured the mob that the culprit will be arrested within two days.”

Dash said: “We will discuss with the appropriate authorities about regulating the movement of heavy vehicles during peak hours.”