Bhubaneswar, Oct. 5: Students of a private engineering college at Kaushalyagang on the city outskirts blocked National Highway-203 today after a student was hurt in a road accident.

The protesters burnt tyres and ransacked a city bus that had hit the victim.

The incident occurred around 9.25am when Debabrata Sahu, a third-year B.Tech student of the institute, was heading to the institute on his motorcycle with two friends riding pillion. The bus, which was going from Bhubaneswar to Puri, hit him from behind.

Sahu was immediately taken to a nearby private hospital and discharged after primary treatment. While Sahu suffered minor injuries, his two friends were unhurt. The motorcycle was completely damaged in the accident.

Following the incident, hundreds of students gathered and blocked the road.

“Reckless bus driving caused the accident. The authorities must erect speed-breakers and deploy personnel to manage the traffic in the college area,” said a protester. The demonstrators also demanded a bus stop near their college.

Officials of Dream Team Sahara (DTS), the private operator of city bus service, rushed to the spot and had the vehicle of the injured student repaired.

“The students must realise that the city bus service is meant for them. They should not have ransacked the bus,” said a senior DTS official. The protesters cleared the road after the intervention of police and government officials.

“I have intimated the Puri collector about the demands of the students. We will also write to the authorities of National Highway Authorities of India to construct a speed-breaker and also the Bhubaneswar Puri Transport Services Limited to have a bus stop near the college,” said Pipili tehsildar A.K. Patnaik.

Traffic between Bhubaneswar and Puri was disrupted because of the road blockade.

“We do not know whether the students have any genuine demands, but they do not have any authority to block the road,” said Paramita Jena, a commuter.

In a similar incident on April 14, a Nayagarh resident was run over by a truck at Gangapada on the city outskirts. Angry local residents had blocked the National Highway 5 following to protest against the accident.