Bhubaneswar, July 21: A state intelligence bureau (SIB) employee died after falling from a running train near Goutam Nagar this afternoon. In another incident, four persons, including two college girls, sustained injuries in road accidents.
Sources said Gobinda Chandra Barik, 45, the SIB employee was crushed under the wheels of the train. The government railway police (GRP) rushed him to Capital Hospital where he died. The deceased used to stay in the SIB quarters in Unit VI.
His family members said that he left the house saying he was going to the office. But his colleagues said he had told them that he was going to his village Bajapur in Khurda. Eyewitnesses, however, said he fell on the tracks from the running train.
The GRP officials said they were not clear whether it was a case of suicide or an accident. “We have registered an unnatural death case and are investigating the matter,” said S.R. Kar, inspector-in-charge of GRP.
In another incident, two students of Ramadevi Women’s College sustained injuries when a police jeep hit them at Anand Bazar Square on the road joining Acharya Vihar with Nicco Park. The girls were identified as Suchitra Acharya and Nibedita Pradhan.
“It was around 10am and we were crossing the road from Regional Institute of Education’s side to the other side to go to our college. A speeding police vehicle hit us,” said Suchitra. The girls were taken to the Capital Hospital for treatment where they were let off after first aid.
However, the police said the girls were crossing the road carelessly. “Even the parents of the girls said it was the fault of their children and did not lodge any complaint,” said a police officer.
This road from Acharya Vihar Square to Housing Board Square has become accident-prone. The stretch from Acharya Vihar Square to Nicco Park, in particular, has become dangerous for the students as they usually cross the road from this point.
On one side there is the Regional Institute of Education and on the other side Ramadevi College and busy Saheed Nagar area.
“During the peak hours, this road becomes dangerous for pedestrians who cross from one side to the other. Lane roads from Rupali Square, Ramadevi College and DCP office join this road making it more vulnerable for accidents,” said Deepak Martha, a trader.
Lack of a road divider and zebra crossing adds to the worries of the pedestrians. The public works department (PWD) said this road would be expanded once the expansion of Janapath is over.
“We are going to design some zebra crossings on this stretch,” said a PWD officer.
Last night another accident occurred at Acharya Vihar Square in which a car going towards Sainik School was hit by an unidentified vehicle coming from Khandagiri side. Two persons sitting in the car sustained injuries. The Saheed Nagar police rushed them to a private hospital nearby.
