Toll Gate Worker Killed in Hit-and-Run; Cattle Truck Seized in Jharsuguda

Jharsuguda,  — A toll gate employee lost his life in a devastating hit-and-run accident early Thursday morning near the Gobindpur toll gate on National Highway-49. The victim, Anil Kumar Patel of Kadamdihi village, was on duty when a speeding Scorpio vehicle transporting cattle struck him fatally.

The incident triggered public outrage, with locals gathering at the scene in protest. Rengali police responded swiftly, calming the crowd and sending Patel’s body for post-mortem examination.

Authorities seized the vehicle and rescued six cattle believed to be illegally transported. The driver fled the scene and remains at large, prompting a manhunt and a broader investigation into illegal livestock trafficking.

This tragedy has reignited concerns over road safety violations and unchecked cattle transport on national highways, raising questions about enforcement and accountability.