Students of Laxmi Narayan Sahu College protest against the death of a fellow student in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Aug. 8: Movement of traffic on National Highway (NH) - 5 came to a halt at Jagatpur today for nearly three hours following a roadblock by students of a private college. They were protesti ng against the death of a girl student.

Nearly 200 students of Laxmi Narayan Sahu College ransacked seven buses and two trucks following the mishap, in which a speeding bus ran over 17-year-old Ahalya Sethi, a Plus Two student, while she was on her way to college. Another girl suffered injuries.

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the highway.

“There was total chaos between Jagatpur and Manguli toll gate because of the roadblock. We were stuck and there was no way we could turn back,” said Laxmidhar Sahu, a commuter. Vehicles were lined up on both sides of the highway. Normality was restored around 2pm after senior police officials told the students to place their demands before the authorities of the district administration. The students were demanding for a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the family members of the deceased.

Student Suchismita Behera said the incident occurred around 10:30am when Ahalya, along with her friend Rashmita Mallick, were on their way to the college on their bicycles. Ahalya died on the spot while Rashmita, who suffered injuries on her leg, is undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital. Her condition is said to be critical.

“Both the girls were waiting at the road divider to cross when the speeding bus hit them,” said eyewitness Pradip Das.

“My daughter had left home around 6am to go for kabaddi practice. She came home around 8am and immediately went for her tuitions and was going to attend classes at the college when the incident occurred,” said Ahalya’s father Rajendra Sethi. Local residents said the entire stretch of NH-5, from Sikharpur up to Chandikhol via Jagatpur, had become accident-prone.

“The authorities of the national highways should initiate measures to install speed brakers and construct a bypass at Jagatpur. There are many educational institutions on both the sides of the highway,” said resident Pitambar Jena.