Khurda: The death rate due to road accidents continued to rise in Khurda police district with 447 fatalities being reported in the past four years.
According to sources, the district witnessed 107 casualties in road accidents in 2013, 132 in 2014, 118 in 2015 and 90 in 2016. Similarly, 120 persons were critically injured in road accidents in 2013 while 142 suffered minor injuries. The figure is 159 and 122 in 2014, 199 and 66 in 2015 and 133 and 86 in 2016.
The Calcutta-Chennai National Highway-16, which passes through the district, witnessed six road accidents from July 30 to till date in which 10 people have lost their lives.
Two persons had died while two others suffered severe injuries when a truck collided with another cement-laden truck after hitting a scooter near Golabai Square on Kolkata-Chennai National Highway-16 July 30.
Similarly, a man and his brother-in-law were crushed to death by a speeding truck at Kuradhamalla Square July 31. The incident had taken a violent turn when locals set ablaze a container truck.
Recently, three persons died when a tractor in which they were travelling was hit by a truck near Barunei over-bridge on the NH August 24.
The frequent road accidents indicate that the road journey is not safer for commuters. The checks conducted by police officials are only an eyewash which has failed to curb the mishaps. The rising mishaps have also exposed the helplessness of the transport department.
“There is need to improve the traffic management and strong action should be taken against the traffic violators to curb such mishaps. Besides, there is need to create awareness on road safety to curb such fatalities, a local said.
“The district regional transport authorities should keep a vigil on road permit, fitness of vehicles, overloading of passengers and goods vehicles,” he added.
“Majority of buses plying on village roads are in a bad condition which do not have fitness. However, people are compelled to travel in the buses due to shortage of transport facilities. The buses also carry passengers beyond the permissible limit. Some profit-motive vehicle owners do not look after its maintenance,” some intellectuals said.
“Overloading in buses is also a common sight in cities. It often leads to scuffle between passengers and conductors. Besides, drunken driving and talking over phone while driving are also major factors responsible for frequent road mishaps. However, lack of action against the traffic defaulters is leading to such fatalities,” they added.
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