Hill state roads a death trap for passengers

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, August 30

Travelling on state roads is nothing short of a nightmare. On an average, 12 persons are becoming victims of road accidents in the state every day.

The state roads considered lifeline of this hill state have virtually turned into death traps for the passengers because of difficult topography and narrow state roads.

According to the figures available, 3,934 road accidents occurred in year 2011 in Himachal. The figure witnessed a steady increase in the trend with 4,448 road accidents reported in 2012 and 4,862 in 2013. The figure of road accidents witnessed a steep rise in 2014 as 6,764 road accidents were reported this year in Himachal.

The number of the people killed in road accidents was 5,963 in 2011, 6,715 in 2012 and 6,650 in 2013. The figure increased to 8,858 in 2014.

A survey carried by GVK EMRI 108 National Ambulance Services has revealed that out of 503 black spots on roads of Himachal, 171 are turning out to be death traps. Repeated accidents on these spots have become a routine affair.

According to the survey report, emergency services have saved the lives of 859 people last year, who were seriously injured in road accidents.

Out of the 12 districts of Himachal, Kangra (5,703) witnessed the maximum road accidents in 2014. Kangra is followed by Una where 3,861 accidents were recorded last year. Mandi recorded 3,813, Solan 3,809 and Shimla 3,147 accidents. The minimum road accidents during 2014 were registered in Lahaul Spiti (138 ) and Kinnaur (175).

One reason for the increasing accidents could be manifold increase in light and heavy vehicles in the state in the past several years. State and inter-state traffic has also gone up but the roads have not been widened. The width of most of the roads has remained the same as it was 20 years ago.

Unfortunately, the government has no agenda at hand for the expansion and improvement of roads. Successive state governments have virtually ignored the road sector. Even the state and national highways are in a bad shape. The condition of narrow internal roads is worse where frequent road accidents are taking place.

Despite tall claims made by the Himachal Pradesh government nothing worthwhile has been done to ensure the passenger safety. Trucks and buses carrying pilgrims on the roofs can be seen frequently. Rampant corruption in traffic police has made the matter worse.

Though 95 per cent of the total population of the state is dependent on the road transport, the aspect of passenger safety has been completely neglected.