Patna: A nine-year-old girl died on the spot after being hit by a speeding SUV on NH-139 under Mehandia police station area in Arwal district late Saturday night.After the accident, the driver fled leaving the SUV on the spot. Angered by the accident, local people and family members blocked NH-139, demanding the arrest of the SUV driver and compensation to the victim’s family. Due to the jam, long queues of vehicles formed on both sides of NH. Villagers demanded financial assistance to the victim’s family from the administration. After an assurance and immediate relief of Rs 20,000 to the bereaved family, the blockade was lifted and the traffic resumed, police said.The deceased was identified as Ragini Kumari, daughter of Dhananjay Ram alias Chavanni, a resident of Koni Kuti village.According to eyewitnesses, the SUV going at high speed from Mehandia towards Aurangabad hit Ragini who was standing on the roadside. The collision was so strong that the girl died on the spot. After hitting the girl, the driver lost control and the SUV rammed into a kiosk on the roadside. The kiosk was completely damaged in the accident.After the accident, the driver fled leaving the vehicle. Police seized the SUV and started searching for the absconding driver.Ragini was the only daughter of her family. She also has a brother.On receiving information, Mehandia SHO Manoranjan Kumar, additional SHO Rajesh Kumar and sub-inspector Rohit Ram along with police force reached the spot. Police officials tried to pacify the agitated villagers and family members. Meanwhile, block development officer (BDO) Sushil Kumar also reached the spot.The BDO provided a cheque of Rs20,000 to the family under Family Benefit Scheme and assured that other govt assistance would be provided soon.“Police seized the SUV and the body was handed over to the family after the postmortem at Arwal Sadar Hospital. Raids are being conducted to arrest the absconding driver,” the SHO added.
