A CORRESPONDENT
LAKHIMPUR: Road traffic accidents have turned into an issue of major concern in Dhakuakhana subdivision of Lakhimpur district after the Dhakuakhana-Majuli connecting road was constructed with two lanes recently.
A section of unruly dumpers, truck and tractor drivers, allegedly driving their vehicles in high speed along this road in a drunken condition, has created havoc among the common people and the other persons who travel along the road. As a result of it, several people under Dhakuakhana and Majuli have to embrace immature death in tragic accidents while many people have to suffer injuries.
Of late, a youth teacher named Achyut Chutia (34) lost his life when a dumper moving at a high speed knocked his bike from behind on Friday. At that time, Achyut was going to Dhakuakhana town along the road from his home at Sonari Chapori-Kekuri. This tragic accident evoked strong public reaction and the pent-up anger of the local people erupted against the subdivisional administration because the administration has allegedly paid no attention to initiate any steps to control the high speed of the vehicles till date despite consecutive demands for the same made by them. This dereliction of the subdivisional administration resulted in immature death of two persons in the same month on the same road.
As a consequence, the local people, led by Sonari Chapori and Kekuri regional units of Chutia Jati Sanmilan and Takam Mising Porin Kebang, staged a 24-hour long road blockade in front of the Sonari Chapori Gaon Panchayat Office from 6 am on Saturday. By staging the stir, the protesters expressed vehement resentment against the subdivisional administration by shouting various slogans. Later, Krishna Arjun Barman, the Circle Officer of Subansiri Revenue Circle, arrived at the protest venue and accepted the memorandum submitted by the protesters.
Through the memorandum, the protesters demanded compensation for Achyut Chutia’s wife along with her employment, necessary measures to control the high speed of the dumpers, trucks and tractors plying along the road and their unruly drivers, to repair the constructional defects of the road and to ensure the security of the lives of the people who travel along the road.