Surge in Bihar road accidents raise safety concerns
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Surge in Bihar road accidents raise safety concerns

Recent data from the traffic department, analysed from 2020-2023, indicates a rise in road accidents, including fatal ones, in Bihar. This concern is highlighted by a chilling accident in Mumbai where a 45-year-old was hit and dragged for nearly 1.5km. Similarly harrowing incidents have become a common occurrence in Bihar.

For example, a speeding car collided with an autorickshaw in Begusarai, killing five people on the spot and seriously injuring three. The two men in the car abandoned their vehicle and fled. This incident is reminiscent of a tragic road accident in Patna in March 2019, where a teenager, driving his father's car, hit and dragged a 16-year-old boy for nearly 8km, resulting in the boy's severe mutilation. In just the first nine days of July, at least 20 people have died in various road accidents across Bihar. On July 1, a speeding tractor in Rohtas split a car in two, killing three people. On July 5, a speeding car in Patna district killed a man and his two children after hitting three bikes. On July 4, a truck collision in Kishanganj district resulted in the death of a one-year-old toddler and his parents. In 2023, nearly 10,000 road accidents occurred in Bihar, with around 8,900 fatalities. The traffic department's analysis shows an increasing trend in road accidents, including fatal ones. Bihar ranks number 14 in road accidents on national highways, but number 7 in fatal accidents. Alarmingly, it is second in terms of deaths per 100 accidents on national highways and in accidents per 10,000 vehicles, despite having only 5% of the total NH length.

ADG (traffic) Sudhanshu Kumar attributed the main causes of such accidents to over-speeding, wrong-side driving, and overloading of vehicles. He cited an incident in Lakhisarai where 14 people died after their overloaded auto was hit by a speeding truck. He emphasized the need for behavioural changes to curb such accidents.

To address these issues, the state has introduced highway patrolling vehicles, flagged off by CM Nitish Kumar on June 21. Currently, 23 vehicles are in operation, with 38 more expected by mid-August, covering around 3,000km. However, Sudhanshu stressed that addressing black spots, over 200 of which exist in the state (95% on national highways), is crucial for reducing accidents.

Social worker Shahzade pointed out that while new roads have been constructed, the absence of foot overbridges, particularly in rural areas, has led to many becoming victims of speeding trucks. He advocated for permanent solutions such as railway and foot overbridges at necessary locations, stating that mere signage is insufficient to solve the problem. (Source: ET)

Recent data from the traffic department, analysed from 2020-2023, indicates a rise in road accidents, including fatal ones, in Bihar. This concern is highlighted by a chilling accident in Mumbai where a 45-year-old was hit and dragged for nearly 1.5km. Similarly harrowing incidents have become a common occurrence in Bihar. For example, a speeding car collided with an autorickshaw in Begusarai, killing five people on the spot and seriously injuring three. The two men in the car abandoned their vehicle and fled. This incident is reminiscent of a tragic road accident in Patna in March 2019, where a teenager, driving his father's car, hit and dragged a 16-year-old boy for nearly 8km, resulting in the boy's severe mutilation. In just the first nine days of July, at least 20 people have died in various road accidents across Bihar. On July 1, a speeding tractor in Rohtas split a car in two, killing three people. On July 5, a speeding car in Patna district killed a man and his two children after hitting three bikes. On July 4, a truck collision in Kishanganj district resulted in the death of a one-year-old toddler and his parents. In 2023, nearly 10,000 road accidents occurred in Bihar, with around 8,900 fatalities. The traffic department's analysis shows an increasing trend in road accidents, including fatal ones. Bihar ranks number 14 in road accidents on national highways, but number 7 in fatal accidents. Alarmingly, it is second in terms of deaths per 100 accidents on national highways and in accidents per 10,000 vehicles, despite having only 5% of the total NH length. ADG (traffic) Sudhanshu Kumar attributed the main causes of such accidents to over-speeding, wrong-side driving, and overloading of vehicles. He cited an incident in Lakhisarai where 14 people died after their overloaded auto was hit by a speeding truck. He emphasized the need for behavioural changes to curb such accidents. To address these issues, the state has introduced highway patrolling vehicles, flagged off by CM Nitish Kumar on June 21. Currently, 23 vehicles are in operation, with 38 more expected by mid-August, covering around 3,000km. However, Sudhanshu stressed that addressing black spots, over 200 of which exist in the state (95% on national highways), is crucial for reducing accidents. Social worker Shahzade pointed out that while new roads have been constructed, the absence of foot overbridges, particularly in rural areas, has led to many becoming victims of speeding trucks. He advocated for permanent solutions such as railway and foot overbridges at necessary locations, stating that mere signage is insufficient to solve the problem. (Source: ET)

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Cabinet Approves Key Highway and Rail Projects in Bihar Region

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the four-laning of the 84.2-km Mokama-Munger section of the Buxar-Bhagalpur high-speed corridor, a key industrial region in poll-bound Bihar. The Cabinet also sanctioned the doubling of the 177-km Bhagalpur-Dumka-Rampurhat railway line, which passes through Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, at a cost of Rs 31.7 billion.The Rs 44.5 billion highway project will be constructed under the hybrid annuity model, a variant of public-private partnership. The Mokama-Munger stretch was the only remaining two-lane section of the 363-km Buxar-Bhagalpur corridor. Fou..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

NGT Issues Notice on Bengaluru Twin Tunnel Project

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday issued notices in response to a petition filed by Bengaluru Praja Vedike and others, challenging the Bengaluru twin tunnel road project. Petitioners claim the project was “hastily announced” and bypassed mandatory environmental impact assessment procedures.Notices have been served to the Karnataka Government, Greater Bengaluru Authority, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE), the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and project consultants.The 16.74-km twin-tube..

Next Story
Real Estate

India’s Residential Sales to Dip Slightly in FY26

Residential sales in India’s seven major cities are projected to decline by up to 3 per cent year-on-year in FY26 to 620–640 million square feet (msf), amid a moderation in sales velocity, according to ratings agency Icra.In FY25, sales stood at 643 msf, down 8 per cent YoY, following a sharp contraction in new launches and moderated demand in the affordable and mid-income segments. This slowdown came after the sector posted a robust compound annual growth rate of 26 per cent in area sales between FY22 and FY24.Icra noted: “Having seen a strong upcycle, the sector entered an equilibrium ..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?