City’s Airport light point turns killer stretch

Amit Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 30

The Airport light point, where a 30-year-old DJ was killed after his scooter was hit and dragged for around 100 metres by a speeding Innova on the night of November 28, has in the past few years emerged as one of the most accident-prone spots in the city with 31 fatal accidents having been reported from the spot between 2012 and 2014. 

The victim, Ravi Sharma, was heading back home when the recklessly driven vehicle hit the victim’s scooter from the rear side.

This was the second fatal accident reported from the spot this year, apart from three non-fatal accidents.

The traffic police claim that overspeeding during late hours and  drunken driving are behind the rising number of accidents in the city. 

Interestingly, the Chandigarh Police have no mechanism to check overspeeding at night, which has turned out to be the major reason behind road accidents.

Harman Sidhu, founder of NGO Arrive Safe and road safety expert, said there was a lane for two-wheelers on the road towards the Airport light point, which should be used by two-wheeler riders to prevent road accidents. Besides, they should be more careful while driving during late hours as motorists drive at a high speed during night. “The traffic police should also encourage two-wheeler riders to use the path,” he said. Maneesh Chaudhary, SSP (Traffic), said several proposals, including installation of pedestrian pelican lights with a zebra crossing, underpasses and foot overbridges, had been sent to the UT Administration to check road accidents. Among the list of accident-prone spots is the Hallomajra light point from where 32 fatal accidents were reported between 2014 and November 2015. Next comes the Housing Board light point from where 31 fatal accidents were reported.

354 accidents reported this year

During this year, a total of 354 road accidents were reported from the city till November 15 of which 99 were fatal in which 103 persons died. The Airport light point has witnessed 33 fatal road accidents from 2012 till November 15. 

Accused driver arrested 

A day after a 30-year-old DJ, Ravi Sharma, was killed when a recklessly driven Innova car hit the victim’s two-wheeler at the Airport light point, the main accused, Pritpal Singh, alias Preet, a native of Abohar, was arrested by the police. The Innova was being driven by Pritpal Singh. 

Accident-prone spots

Housing Board light point

31 fatal road accidents from 2014 till November 2015. 

Hallo Majra light point

32 fatal road accidents from 2014 till November 2015. 

Airport light point

33 fatal road accidents from 2012 till November 15, 2015.