Bhadrak: Even as the government and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) spend crores of rupees on road safety awareness programmes, NH-16 in Bhadrak has turned out to be a death zone. With accidents on the rise, the district has recorded 840 accidents between 2015 and July 2018 on the highway. During this period, 380 people have died and 471 injured. Significantly, accidents have claimed 106 lives in the last 10 months.
Police sources said most of the accidents have taken place on NH-16. From January to October 2018, 113 accidents claimed 106 lives and left 42 injured.
The areas near NH which were identified as accident prone included Bhandaripokhari, Gelapur Chhak, Motel Chhak, Dahanigadia Chhak and Ranitsal Chhak.
There are several other places where accidents have been occurring frequently. They are: Akhuapada, Paripada, Dahala Chhak, Dhamnagar Chhak, Barikpur Chhak, Gopabandhu Chhak, Aradi Chhak, Dahanigadia Chhak and Charampa.
Several factors are responsible for accidents. Potholes, bad shape of road, stray bovines and absence of warning signage at accidents prone places. Illegal vehicle parking along the NH and other roadsides is another reason for mishaps.
District transport officer Biranchi Narayan Adhikari said following a directive from the Collector, steps are being taken to prevent and curb accidents.
The civic authorities have been asked to identify accident prone spots on NH-16 to put up warning signage and build speed breakers, he added.
PNN