Patna: An eighth-grade student was killed after being hit by a speeding truck on the Bikram–Paliganj road in Patna district. The deceased has been identified as Avinash Kumar, a resident of Masaudha Telpa village under Bikram police station limits.
According to police, the incident occurred near the HDFC Bank in Bikram Bazaar while Avinash was returning home from a private coaching class on his bicycle. He was struck from behind by a truck and crushed before he could react. The teenager died on the spot.
Following the accident, enraged locals intercepted the truck and handed it over to the authorities. However, the driver managed to flee. Police confirmed that the truck has been seized and efforts are underway to trace the absconding driver.
The fatal accident triggered protests in the area, with residents blocking the road and bringing traffic to a halt for some time. Demonstrators alleged that rampant encroachment on both sides of the Bikram Bazaar road had severely narrowed the passage, making it increasingly unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. They also criticised the local administration for failing to act despite repeated complaints.
“The road is choked due to illegal encroachments. Accidents have become routine here, but no one listens to us,” said a resident present at the protest.
Police from the Bikram station, led by Station House Officer Vinod Kumar, reached the scene and persuaded the crowd to clear the blockade. “A student was killed after being hit by a truck near HDFC Bank. The vehicle has been impounded and we are searching for the driver,” said Kumar. Avinash’s body has been sent to AIIMS Patna for postmortem.
