Fatal accidents in Himachal: Kullu tops with 30 black spots

Bhanu P Lohumi

Shimla, July 6

Focus is back on road safety following the death of 13 persons, including schoolchildren, in an accident in Kullu district on Monday. The accident could have been avoided if crash barriers were installed there.

Kullu with 30 of 140 black spots identified in the state tops the list. The district witnesses frequent fatal accidents and the police have identified the black spots on the basis of recurring and roll down accidents in all 12 districts.

The black spots identified in Kullu district include road stretches near Tarala and Sakeld Janja, Sainj, Ranabag, Jalori Khnar, 2 Sheri, Kiran, Acharu Devta Temple, Shahiropa, Shenshar, Baialdhara temple, Kharagad Jalora, Shanad Balagad, Naraish village, Sheetla Mata Mandir, Sarlidhar, Hathithan Chowk, Dimnupani, Padogi Chowki, Bajaura, Koyal village, Himri on the Koyal village link road, Nathul Park in old Manali, Bagipul, Naggar, Kalaunti, Aarchandi Kali Mata mandir and the Bhalanghat Kainchi mod.

The details of accident-prone stretches (black spots) were shared with the Public Works Department (PWD), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in April this year for necessary engineering interventions/ improvements, including the installation of crash barriers, widening of narrow stretches, removal of debris and display of signboards.

Meanwhile, DGP Sanjay Kundu has issued directions to the field staff to enhance traffic checking to reduce violations. A list of 10 vulnerable stretches in each district requiring crash barriers have been shared with the PWD. As many as 21 black spots have been identified in Shimla, 12 each in Bilaspur and Mandi, 10 each in Chamba, Kangra, Kinnaur, Sirmaur and Una, nine in Hamirpur, five in Solan and four in Lahaul and Spiti.

As many as 5,503 persons were killed and 22,583 injured in 13,740 accidents in Himachal in the past five years. Of total 13,740 accidents, 3,020 roll down mishaps claimed 2,633 lives while 6,792 persons were injured. In Kullu district, 435 persons died in 901 road accidents while 1,439 were injured.

About 28 per cent of 20,387 vehicles involved in accidents were commercial. Overspeeding (6,673) and dangerous driving (2,683) led to 68 per cent mishaps while 1,505 accidents were attributed to taking turn without caution, 866 to dangerous overtaking and 554 to intoxication while bad road and adverse weather conditions were other reasons, besides mechanical faults.