Sand-laden lorry crushes 11-year-old to death in Tripura

Tragedy struck the Puangbari area under Melaghar police station of Tripura's Sepahijala Distric on Saturday afternoon when an 11-year-old boy, Rajesh Das, was crushed to death by a speeding sand-laden lorry.

According to eyewitnesses, the child was walking along the roadside near the Puangbari market when the lorry, bearing registration number TR01F1602, lost control and ran over him. Rajesh, son of Nimai Das and a resident of Puangbari, died on the spot. His mother’s heart-wrenching cries beside his lifeless body left bystanders in tears.

Police from Melaghar police station rushed to the spot, seized the vehicle, and arrested the driver, identified as Prosenjit Debnath, son of the late Suryakanta Debnath of Ward No. 5, Bogarbasa — an area falling under the same police jurisdiction.

The child's body was recovered and taken to Melaghar hospital for post-mortem.

As news of the incident spread, a wave of anger swept through the locality. An agitated mob vandalised the lorry involved in the accident, blaming reckless driving and lack of enforcement on over-speeding heavy vehicles.

Local residents have demanded strict action against the driver and urged authorities to implement speed control measures in market and residential zones.