Patna, Feb 24: At least seven people were killed in a road accident near the Nura Bazaar bridge on Masaurhi-Pitwans Road in Patna district late Sunday night following which locals blocked the road Monday in protest.

Residents have accused the district administration of negligence in the rescue operation. Following the accident, residents blocked the road and demanded compensation and the arrest of the truck driver responsible for the collision.

The blockade led to traffic being diverted to alternative routes, including Pitwans via the Masaurhi-Deoria-Tiskhora turn.

Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident and have initiated rescue operations to assist the victims.

The collision involved a truck and an auto-rickshaw carrying labourers returning to Kharat village from Patna. The impact caused both vehicles to veer off the road into adjacent water bodies. The auto-rickshaw submerged under the truck.

The victims were identified as Matendra Bind (25), Vinay Bind (30), Umesh Bind (38), Ramesh Bind (52), Sushil Kumar, tempo driver (35), Umesh Bind (30) and Suraj Thakur (20).

Upon receiving information, police arrived at the scene and, with the assistance of a JCB machine, retrieved the bodies.

Family members of the deceased and residents gathered at the site, expressing grief and frustration. The victims, primarily from Doripar village, were daily wage labourers who commuted to Patna for work.

The truck driver fled the scene following the accident. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident and have initiated measures to address the community's concerns.

(IANS)

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