Schoolboy crushed by speeding tanker in Raipur, dies on road

Raipur: A 15-year-old boy walking down the lane towards his tuition classes was crushed to death by a speeding water tanker near Saddu school in Raipur on Wednesday morning, with chilling CCTV footage showing the teenager briefly getting back on his feet moments after the vehicle’s wheels ran over him before collapsing on the road.The incident, which occurred under Vidhan Sabha police station limits, has once again brought focus on the growing menace of reckless heavy vehicles in the state capital, especially tankers as they are often driven by youths or teens high on substance abuse. It’s often seen that they simply run down tanker vehicles on the road without any awareness of traffic rules or sensitivity towards human lives.Police said the victim, identified as Mahaveer Sharma, was headed to his class with a bag slung over his shoulder when the tanker allegedly ran over him and sped away from the spot.The CCTV footage, now circulating widely, shows Mahaveer walking along the roadside seconds before the accident. Investigators are also examining the movement of an unidentified motorcycle rider seen in the footage just before the tanker struck the boy.Police suspect the biker’s sudden movement may have caused the teenager to lose balance or come dangerously close to the tanker’s path. Officials are probing whether the biker accidentally pushed or brushed against the boy moments before the impact.In one of the most disturbing moments captured on camera, the boy is seen attempting to stand up even after the tanker’s wheels had passed over him. He manages to rise briefly before collapsing again on the road. Locals rushed towards him, but he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.Investigators said the unidentified biker was among the first people to reach the teen after the accident.The tanker driver fled immediately after the incident along with the vehicle. Police said the driver has been identified and teams have been formed to trace and arrest him.The incident sparked outrage in the locality, with residents alleging that speeding tankers and heavy vehicles continue to move recklessly through residential and school zones despite repeated accidents.The tragedy comes amid rising concern over road safety in Raipur, where cases involving speeding commercial vehicles have repeatedly claimed lives, particularly of pedestrians and two-wheeler riders.