Three young friends lost their lives in a tragic road accident in Surajpur district on Friday night after their bike rammed into a stationary maize-loaded truck on the roadside. The incident, which occurred while the victims were heading to a wedding, triggered massive outrage among locals, who set the truck on fire and assaulted police personnel who reached the spot.

The accident has once again highlighted concerns over road safety and improper parking of heavy vehicles in the region.

Four Friends on Single Bike

The victims — Rupchand Pakra (20), Ravindra Pakra (19) and Om Prakash Pakra (18) — all residents of Baikona village under Pratappur police station, were riding a single motorcycle to attend a wedding in Khajuri village. The fourth friend, Armaan Pakra (16), sustained serious injuries and was referred to Ambikapur Medical College in critical condition.

The collision happened between 11:30 pm and midnight on the main road of Gram Panchayat Rampur when the bike slammed into the rear of the parked truck. The impact was so severe that the motorcycle was badly damaged and three youths died on the spot.

Mob Fury Leads to Arson

News of the accident spread quickly, drawing an angry crowd of villagers to the spot. In a fit of rage, locals set the truck on fire. The blaze engulfed the front portion of the vehicle, reducing it to ashes before police could fully control the situation.

Eyewitnesses claimed the truck was parked without adequate safety measures such as reflectors or warning signs, which they said contributed to the tragedy. Police had to use water to douse the flames while recovering the bodies for postmortem.

Police Personnel Assaulted

A Dial-112 emergency response team that reached the spot to shift the injured faced hostility from the grieving villagers. The mob allegedly assaulted two personnel, including Constable Nitesh Toppo and the driver, accusing them of failing to ensure the truck was removed after an earlier incident. Both sustained injuries but were rescued by locals from Shivpur village and taken to hospital.

Surajpur SDOP Anoop Ekka later clarified that the Dial-112 team had responded promptly to the emergency call and denied any negligence. A separate FIR has been registered regarding the assault on police personnel.

Same Truck Involved in Earlier Crash

Investigations revealed that the same truck had been involved in another accident just about 90 minutes earlier on the Pratappur-Semarsot road near Shivpur around 10 pm. A car had collided with it, leading to a brief argument between the truck driver and the car occupants. The driver reportedly abandoned the truck and fled the spot. After police intervention, the car left, but the truck remained parked on the roadside, setting the stage for the fatal bike crash.

Families Shattered, Investigation Underway

The incident turned a joyous occasion into mourning for the families in Baikona village. Relatives of the deceased were inconsolable, with many questioning how young lives were lost so suddenly. Police have initiated a detailed probe into the cause of the accident, including the role of the truck driver and possible lapses in road safety protocols.

Authorities have appealed for calm while assuring strict action against those responsible for any violations. The injured youth’s condition is being closely monitored.

Road Safety Concerns Resurface

Road accidents involving parked heavy vehicles have been a recurring issue in Chhattisgarh, especially on highways and rural stretches. The Surajpur tragedy has once again sparked demands for better enforcement of traffic rules, including mandatory use of warning triangles, reflectors, and proper lighting for stationary trucks at night.

Local residents have urged the administration to take concrete steps to prevent such incidents and improve emergency response mechanisms in remote areas.

As the police continue their investigation, the people of Baikona and surrounding villages are mourning the loss of three young lives cut short on what was supposed to be a night of celebration.