Rewind 2018: In 2018, Telangana sees 10 per cent decline in road fatalities
Hyderabad: The deaths caused by road accidents have reduced to 10 per cent this year, in comparison with the year, 2016. There has been a significant reduction in the number of injuries and accidents as well.
However, the year has seen a tragic accident at Kondagattu Ghat, in which 62 passengers died on the spot, when the bus they were travelling in, fell into a gorge.
In 2018, till November, 5,985 people lost their lives in 20,325 accidents. However, it is lower in comparison to last year, 2017, which took about 6,596 lives in 22,484 accidents. The major accidents were caused on major district roads, which comprises 71 per cent in the state and have accounted for 51 per cent deaths. The National Highways, which comprises 18 per cent accounted for 31 per cent deaths.
According to Road Transport Authority officials, Telangana state ranked number 9 in the top 15 accident-prone states in the year 2016, as it witnessed around five per cent of total accidents and deaths in the country. This motivated the Road Transport Authority to take steps in reducing these mishaps. Following which, a committee was formed with all the road safety stakeholders such as Road Agencies, Transport Department, Police Department, Medical and Health Department, Education Department, and Other Departments.
One of the main reasons that the committee found was the presence of Black Spots. Black Spots are defined as stretches of 500 meters, in which more than 5 accidental deaths take place in one calendar year. There were around 23 black spots which were identified and eliminated by applying engineering corrections, effective enforcement by Police and strategic placement of Ambulances, in the last two years. These measures have significantly reduction the number of deaths and accidents in 2018.
The year 2018 has witnessed one of the most tragic accidents in the history of the Road Transport Corporation in Telangana state. On September 9, 2018, an RTC bus fell into a gorge because it was overcrowded and carrying around 116 people at Kondagattu Ghat. As a result, 62 people lost their lives and 54 people were injured.
Earlier, the severity rate on this Ghat road was 400 per cent, but after this accident, the severity rate has risen to 883 per cent. Following the incident, the road safety committee has taken steps to prevent such incidents on the Ghat road. The 2-km fatal road was closed down and boom barriers were installed on both ends. As an alternative, a 7 km stretch was made available for the people. Besides, a Temporary Road Safety Control Room was also established.
