Two kids die as SUV rams into crowd

AURANGABAD

: Two children died and six others were injured on Tuesday when a SUV dashed them near Raniganj village on

GT Road

(NH-2) under Madanpur police station.

Police sources said the condition of two of the injured persons are critical and they have been referred to

Gaya

for better treatment. Eyewitness said a street vendor was selling sweets near the highway and a large number of villagers had gathered there to buy stuff when a speeding SUV hit them.

Police sources said two kids—Mamta Kumari (4) and

Dasni Kumari

(13) —died on the spot, while six others including Ranjeet Kumar, Indu Kumari, Shahjada Husain, Sunayna Devi, Lavkush Kumar and Baseni Devi were injured. The SUV also turned turtle after hitting the roadside barrier and the driver suffered minor injuries.

“Local villagers thrashed the driver but he was saved by police,” said the SHO of Madanpur police station, who was also injured in an attempt to save the driver. Furious over the accident, locals blocked the road for more than two hours. The blockade was lifted only after the administration declared a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to kin of each deceased.

Madanpur circel police inspector

Shyam Kishore Prasad

said the situation is under control and two critically injured were referred to Gaya for treatment.