Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Despite Corona Curfew for two months due to the second wave of COVID-19, not only road accidents but the number of deaths due to road accidents has also increased by almost 20% this year. While the total road accidents have increased by about 22 per cent, the injured in these accidents have increased by 24 per cent as compared to last year.
According to the figures released by city traffic police, the number of deaths was 153 between January 1 and May 31 in 2020, which increased to 184 during the same period this year. This increase is more than 20 per cent. However, the number of serious injuries has decreased by more than 64% this year as compared to last year. From January 1 to May 31 in 2020, the number of seriously injured people was 145, which decreased to 52 this year.
Complete lockdown was declared from the last week of March 2020 and unlock 1.0 started from June 1 and public transport started even later but the death toll in road accidents leapt. According to an official from Indore Traffic Police Department, the figures are from the entire district. After the Corona Curfew in the states, the roads of the outer area were opened for the transportation of industrial vehicles. It is believed that this is the reason behind the increase in road accidents and death rate.
Six killed after car rammed stationary truck
In the month of February 2021, a horrific road accident had taken place in the city. Six youths returning home were killed after their speeding car rammed a stationary truck. However, there was no lockdown or Corona Curfew at that time. This year, many road accidents took place before Corona Curfew and many road accidents took place even after the district administration imposed lockdown or corona curfew for two months. After the death of six people, the police had started removing stationary trucks from near the main roads. City police claimed that they are working in the direction to prevent or decrease road accidents in the city these days.
Movement of vehicle was allowed this year
DSP (traffic) Umakant Choudhary said that the movement of industrial vehicles and people to buy essentials and to get their vaccines were allowed by the police and administration in the city this year. Last year, vehicular movement was completely restricted in the city so road accidents decreased, and the comparison base was lower this year. The administration and the police have marked 15 places as black spots including Lavkush Square, Bapat Square, Lantern Square, Talawali Chanda and some spots on Bypass Road. Most of the black spots are on highways in the district.
