Balangir, Dec. 19: All the five members of a family were crushed to death on Thursday night when a speeding truck rammed into a house at Cherupali village under Dunguripali police station limits in Sonepur, about 35 km from here.

The truck was on its way from Bargarh to Balangir. The deceased have been identified as Nabin Bag, 50, Brundabati, 45, Binodini, 40, Gosant, 22 and Jayanti, 16.

The accident took place at 11.30pm. The driver of the truck is absconding.

Local residents staged a demonstration with the bodies demanding compensation for the kin of the deceased. Traffic movement was hit on the NH-26 at Cherupali due to the protest.

Situation became normal after sub-collector Surya Narayan Dash and sub-divisional police officer of Sonepur Bhabani Shankar Udgata assured compensation.

Later the bodies of the victims were sent for post mortem to Binika hospital.

The district administration gave Rs 10,000 cash and a cheque of Rs 40,000 to the next of the kin of the deceased. Sonepur sub-collector Surya Narayan Dash said the administration would ensure that the family of Nabin Bag was properly compensated. 'The administration understands that the family has suffered a huge loss. We will see that they are compensated adequately. We will make recommendation to the government accordingly,' Dash said.

Surubabu Chhatria, inspector in-charge of Dunguripali police station, said the hut was a kachha one built on the roadside.

'The driver lost control and rammed into the house. All the five died on the spot. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem. A search is on to nab the driver,' Chhatria said. Nabin bag was a ward member of the village panchayat. He had constructed a new house in the village and was supposed to shift there on Monday.