The driver of a fuel tanker involved in a fatal road accident in the Baijalbari area of Khowai district has been arrested following the deaths of two persons in the incident.
The tragic accident took place on Thursday afternoon( August 20), near the Mohanbari TSR camp under the jurisdiction of Khowai-Baijalbari police station.
According to local sources, Ratish Debbarma was riding a motorcycle with his sister-in-law, Billu Debbarma, as a pillion rider. Ratish had reportedly gone to bring Billu from her home in the Mayengbekaring area under Champahour police station of same district, intending to take her to his residence.
When they reached the area near the Mohanbari TSR camp, their motorcycle collided with a fuel tanker truck. Due to the impact, Ratish was thrown off the motorcycle and came under the wheels of the tanker, dying on the spot. Locals said the accident was so severe that his body was badly mutilated.
Billu Debbarma sustained critical injuries in the accident. Police from Baijalbari police station rushed to the spot, rescued her and took her to Khowai District Hospital. As her condition was critical, she was later shifted to the GB Hospital in Agartala for advanced treatment. However, she succumbed to her injuries on the second day while undergoing treatment at GB Hospital.
The deaths of Ratish Debbarma and his sister-in-law in the same accident have cast a pall of grief over their families and the local community.
Following the accident, Baijalbari police station alerted the police of nearby Sidhai and Lefunga police stations to intercept the tanker involved. Lefunga Police subsequently managed to stop the vehicle. However, the driver reportedly abandoned the tanker and fled after seeing the police approaching from a distance.
After a manhunt, Baijalbari police finally managed to apprehend the driver on Tuesday.
Speaking with media persons, SDPO (Khowai) Debaprasad Roy said that police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident and whether any negligence on the part of the tanker driver was involved.
The incident has triggered grief and concern in the area following the deaths of two people in the same road accident.