Umerkote (Nabarangpur): In a tragic road accident, a four-year-old child lost his life after being run over by a mini truck near the old bus stand in Umerkote town of Odisha's Nabarangpur district on Sunday.

According to sources, the child's mother, a resident of Koigaon village under Dongriguda Panchayat in Jharigaon block, was walking along the road near the old bus stand with her three children when the accident occurred. A mini truck approaching from behind allegedly ran over the four-year-old child.

Immediately after the mishap, a local auto-rickshaw driver rushed the critically injured child to the Umerkote Sub-Divisional Hospital. However, doctors declared the child dead upon arrival.

After receiving information, Umerkote police reached the spot, seized the body and launched an investigation into the incident. The mini truck has been seized, and the driver has been detained for questioning. The exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.

The incident has triggered grief among local residents. They alleged that the road near the old bus stand is extremely narrow, leading to frequent traffic congestion and repeated road accidents. Locals have urged the administration to take immediate measures to improve road safety and widen the stretch to prevent such tragedies in the future.