MAU: A fatal road accident on a busy national highway in Uttar Pradesh’s Mau district turned into hours of chaos on Saturday after angry villagers blocked the carriageway with the victim’s body and clashed with police, demanding safer crossing facilities in the area.The unrest broke out after 60-year-old Shanti Devi was killed by a speeding vehicle while crossing the Varanasi-Gorakhpur national highway at Pidhwal market under the Ghosi police station limits.According to police, Shanti Devi was crossing the highway through an informal passage fashioned by cutting the divider when an unidentified four-wheeler struck her. She died on the spot.Soon after the incident, hundreds of villagers assembled at the site, placed the body on the highway and blocked traffic in both directions, disrupting traffic in both directions and causing long queues of vehicles.The situation escalated when police attempted to clear the blockade and shift the body for post-mortem. According to Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Anoop Kumar, some unruly elements allegedly instigated the deceased’s family members and tried to maintain the road blockade.The ASP said protesters pelted stones at police personnel, forcing them to briefly withdraw. Police later dispersed the crowd using mild force, restored traffic and sent the body for post-mortem.Local residents said accidents have become frequent at Pidhwal market area as people living on either side of the highway are compelled to cross the busy road.In the absence of a safe crossing, villagers have created an opening in the divider, which has been in use for years.Villagers alleged that repeated demands for an underpass or a foot overbridge have been ignored by authorities.They claimed that the accident could have been avoided had proper arrangements for safe movement been made.Police have registered a case and launched efforts to trace the unidentified vehicle involved in the accident.The ASP said legal action would also be taken against those responsible for blocking the highway, pelting stones at police and obstructing government work.(With PTI inputs)
