Tragic loss of promising Punjabi singer Rajvir Jawanda at just 35

THE tragic death of promising Punjabi actor and singer Rajvir Jawanda at just 35, days after a horrific road accident, is a reminder that even precautions like wearing a helmet can sometimes prove inadequate when road safety is neglected all around. Reports say he was wearing a helmet, yet succumbed to serious injuries after his bike skidded on a road in Himachal Pradesh. His death has reignited public anguish over India’s dismal road-safety record. Incidentally, this concern was echoed by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, which has directed all states and union territories to frame comprehensive road-safety rules within six months. India accounts for nearly 13 per cent of global road-accident deaths. Every hour, 17 people die on roads. The causes are familiar: poor enforcement, badly maintained highways, reckless driving, and the indifference of both motorists and authorities. Helmets and seat belts help, but they cannot offset the risks created by potholes, overspeeding and the absence of emergency care. The ‘chalta hai’ attitude on roads continues to kill commuters.

The SC intervention is timely. Despite the existence of a National Road Safety Policy since 2010 and the amended Motor Vehicles Act of 2019, enforcement remains patchy. States have failed to set up dedicated road-safety authorities or pedestrian-protection rules. Implementation cannot wait for another tragedy. Helmets, reflector, and fines make news; safe roads and accountability save lives.

Rajvir’s loss should not fade into another statistic. Mere tributes to the late singer by the Chief Minister and other leaders are not enough. They must ensure that road-safety rules are swiftly framed, implemented and enforced in letter and spirit. His accident must push governments to act — to make roads safer, to ensure medical help within the ‘golden hour’ and to treat road safety as a public-health emergency, not a traffic issue.