A truck carrying around 37 tonnes of iron rods remained stranded for more than 24 hours after an accident in the Cooperative area of Natunagar under Airport Police Station, causing severe inconvenience to Durga Puja revelers and prompting protests by local residents.
The accident occurred on Friday night, just as devotees across Tripura thronged Durga Puja pandals from Maha Saptami, with the festive celebrations reaching their peak.
According to local residents, the truck bearing registration number AS 01 NC 9068 met with an accident on Friday night. However, despite the passage of more than a day, the vehicle had not been removed from the spot. Residents alleged that although the police repeatedly assured them that steps would be taken to recover the vehicle, no effective action had been initiated.
The stranded truck reportedly created major traffic disruptions in the area and caused considerable hardship to commuters and Puja visitors travelling through the route.
Residents also expressed fears that the heavily loaded truck, which was in an unstable condition, could overturn at any time, damaging nearby houses and posing a serious threat to public safety.
Protesting the alleged delay in removing the vehicle, local residents staged a road blockade demanding its immediate recovery and adequate safety measures to prevent any untoward incident.
The locals further alleged that the truck driver was brutally assaulted by a group of miscreants following the accident. The injured driver is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Expressing strong resentment over the handling of the incident, residents accused the Airport Police Station of failing to take timely and effective measures to remove the truck or ensure public safety. They warned that continued delay could lead to a major mishap and later briefed the media on the incident and their concerns.