Chandbali: In a tragic incident, a pregnant woman died and her husband was critically injured after a pick-up van hit the bike they were riding at Muni Chhak on Bhadrak-Chandbali main road, Friday. The deceased was identified as Anita Nayak and her critically injured husband as Debabrata Raula of Baghatana village of Orasahi panchayat under Chandbali block.
As per reports, the couple was riding a bike when the pick-up van hit them from behind at Muni Chhak. The vehicle turned turtle and plunged into a nearby pond. Locals then rescued the couple in critical condition and rushed them to Chandbali Hospital.
As the condition of Anita deteriorated, she was shifted to Cuttack but succumbed to her injuries on the way. Anita was reportedly four months pregnant. Informed, Chandbali police nabbed the fleeing driver from a nearby paddy field and took him to police station for interrogation. Tension was palpable in the area as angry locals blocked the Bhadrak-Chandbali main road demanding compensation for next of the kin of the deceased. However, Chandbali PS IIC, Panchanan Mohanty reached the spot and pacified the agitating crowd. Subsequently, the road blockade was removed and traffic movement was normalised.