Bokaro Officials Visit Orphaned Siblings, Promise Govt Support After Parents' Tragic Road Accident

Bokaro: Chandankyari MLA Umakant Rajak and senior district officials on Wednesday visited the home of three siblings, whose parents were killed in a road accident, and assured them of govt support. Rajak, deputy commissioner Ajay Nath Jha and SP Nathu Singh Meena met Pallavi Manji, 13, and her two brothers Vimal and Vidyut, aged 10 and eight, and spoke to them at length.The visits came a day after chief minister Hemant Soren took cognisance of the plight of the siblings on X and directed district officials to extend all help. Notably, the parents of the minors, Sapan Kumar Manji, 50, and Lakshmi Devi, 37, were killed after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding vehicle on NH-218 on May 14 near Dubeykata More. While Sapan was killed on the spot, Lakshmi died during treatment at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi on the night of May 18.When the matter was brought to Soren’s notice on X, he tagged Bokaro DC and wrote, “Take immediate cognisance. Ensure the mother's treatment and proper care of the children, and provide information.”“We have directed the sub-divisional and block development officers to arrange uninterrupted food supply, prepare documents, open bank accounts and link the children with govt welfare schemes. Plans for counselling, mental healthcare and admission to residential schools are also being prepared,” Jha said after the meeting.Officials also outlined financial protection measures, including plans to place compensation funds in fixed deposits in the children’s names. Housing support under welfare schemes were also assured.The team later inspected the accident site near Dubeykata More and directed officials to prepare proposals to strengthen road safety measures on the stretch to prevent similar incidents.Locals informed the officials that Sapan and Lakshmi were travelling to a Bank of India branch at Barmasia when the accident occurred on the Chandankiyari–Purulia stretch of NH-218.On Tuesday, locals blocked NH-218 with Lakshmi’s body demanding compensation for the kids and arrest of the driver of the killer vehicle. The blockade was lifted after hours of negotiations, with local officials facilitating a settlement under which the bereaved family will receive Rs 3 lakh as immediate assistance from the road construction contractor and the vehicle driver.