Zirakpur: Trees, electricity poles in middle of roads turn death traps for motorists

Gaurav Kanthwal

Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, April 11

At least three youths have lost their lives in road accidents due to trees, electricity poles and hoardings standing in the middle of roads in Zirakpur area in the past 20 days. Such traffic hazards in Zirakpur, Gazipur, Dhakoli, Peer Muchalla and Baltana areas often become cause of road mishaps for speeding vehicles and drivers not familiar to the area.

Several precious lives have been lost due to these death traps, but the administration continues to turn a blind eye towards them.

“The administration, PSPCL, MC and the traffic police have adopted a callous attitude towards addressing the issue,” said Siddhesh Jakhar, a resident of Jamuna Enclave, Zirakpur.

On April 10, a joyride for two youths turned fatal when their car hit a tree in the middle of the road in Dhakoli.

Recent deaths

• On April 10, a joyride for two youths turned fatal when their car hit a tree in the middle of the road in Dhakoli.
• On March 21, a 30-year-old motorcyclist died after his bike rammed into an electricity pole erected in the middle of the road near the Sukhna river bridge, Ghazipur.

The 26-year-old Kaithal native Vishal was driving the car at the time of the accident, while 25-year-old Harish from Amritsar was the co-passenger. Vishal was the only brother of his three sisters, while Harish was the only son of his widowed mother.

Trees, electricity poles and hoardings stand in the middle of roads at several places in Dhakoli, Gazipur and Peer Muchalla areas, risking the lives of road users.

On March 21, a 30-year-old motorcyclist died after his bike rammed into an electricity pole erected in the middle of the road near the Sukhna river bridge, Ghazipur. The motorcyclist, Vikasdeep, a resident of Sector 20, Panchkula, was going to Gazipur to oversee the construction work of his house. His brother, Ashwani Kumar, alleged that Vikasdeep’s motorcycle rammed into the pole after being hit by an unidentified vehicle. The police checked the CCTV footage, but nothing consequential came out of the case.