Patna, July 2 (IANS) Two teenage girls were killed in a tragic road accident on Thursday morning near Bhatari Mod under the Pauthu police station area of Aurangabad district after a speeding vehicle lost control and struck them while they were returning from coaching classes, officials said.

The deceased have been identified as Afsari (15), daughter of Mohammad Riyazuddin, and Ashiya (15), daughter of Rustam Ali. Both were residents of Naraula village under the Obra police station area and were cousins.

According to an official, the Scorpio first collided with an electric pole on the roadside. The impact caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, which then hit the two students who were travelling on bicycles.

The collision created panic in the area, and villagers immediately rushed the injured girls to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared both of them dead.

The driver fled the scene immediately after the accident and remains absconding. Police teams are continuing efforts to apprehend the accused.

Following the incident, grieving family members and angry villagers blocked the road near Bhatari Mod on the Obra-Pauthu route and staged a protest. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of the driver, adequate compensation for the bereaved families, and permanent road safety measures in the area.

Due to the blockade, traffic on the Obra-Pauthu route came to a standstill for several hours. Police officials reached the spot after receiving information about the accident and began efforts to control the situation and investigate the incident.

An FIR has been registered at Pauthu Police Station under the relevant provisions relating to rash and negligent driving following the fatal accident.

Police have launched an investigation to identify the driver of the Scorpio SUV responsible for the incident. As part of the probe, investigators are examining CCTV footage from nearby areas to trace the vehicle’s movement and establish the identity of the driver.

–IANS

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