NH-17: Are National Highways becoming deathtraps?

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Is National Highway-37 (newly named NH-17 from Azara-Jalukbari and NH-27 from Jalukbari-Khetri) turning out to be deathtraps? As many as 62 of the 97 people killed in 91 fatal accidents till June 30 this year under the Guwahati Police Commissionerate were on this stretches of the National Highway. Likewise, 106 of the 248 people injured in 256 non-fatal accidents during the six-month period in the city were on the same highway.

This is despite the fact that the first half of 2020 till June 30 was marked mostly by corona-induced lockdowns when vehicular traffic on the road was minimal.

There are three Police districts under this Commissionerate, namely East, West, and Central. A stretch of the National Highway crisscrosses these districts.

A police district-wise analysis of accidents under Guwahati Police Commissionerate shows that 147 accidents (including 34 fatal ones leading to the killing of 37 people and 113 non-fatal ones leading to injuries of 114 people) took place during the six-month period in East Police district.

In the Central Police district, 73 accidents (including 13 fatal ones leading to the killing of 14 persons and 60 non-fatal ones leading to the injury of 45 people) were reported during the period.

The West Police district under the Commissionerate witnessed a total of 127 accidents (including 44 fatal ones leading to the killing of 46 people and 83 non-fatal ones leading to the injury of 89 people) during the period.

A road-and-month-wise analysis of the accidents during the period shows that in January this year, 22 people were killed in 21 fatal accidents and 29 were injured in 31 non-fatal accidents on the NH. On the contrary, during the month six were killed in as many fatal accidents and 20 were injured in 28 non-fatal accidents on state highways. Two persons were killed in as many fatal accidents and 13 were injured in 15 non-fatal accidents on other roads in the city during the month.

In February this year, 15 people lost their lives in as many fatal accidents and 27 were injured in 20 non-fatal accidents on the NH. On State highways, four persons were killed in as many fatal accidents and 28 were injured in 29 non-fatal accidents in the city during the month. One person was killed in a fatal accident and 12 were injured in 14 non-fatal accidents during the month on other roads in the city.

In March, seven persons were killed in six fatal accidents and 25 were injured in 20 non-fatal accidents on the NH. Four persons were killed in three fatal accidents and 19 were injured in 20 non-fatal accidents in the city during the month on State highways. Two were killed in as many fatal accidents and 17 were injured in 16 non-fatal accidents during the month on other roads during the month.

In April, four were killed in as many fatal accidents and three were injured in four non-fatal accidents on the National Highway. Five persons were killed in three fatal accidents and eight were injured in four non-fatal accidents on State highways in the city during the month. One person was injured on other roads in the city during the month. It is noteworthy that entire April month was marked by corona-induced lockdown.

In May, five were killed in four fatal accidents and seven were injured in eight non-fatal accidents on the NH. Five others were killed in as many fatal accidents and eight were injured in as many non-fatal accidents during the month on State highways. One person was killed in a fatal accident and five were injured in four non-fatal accidents on other roads in the city during the month.

In June, nine were killed in as many fatal accidents and 15 were injured in 17 non-fatal accidents on the NH. Five others were killed in as many fatal accidents and seven were injured in 11 non-fatal accidents on State highways during the month. Four were injured in six non-fatal accidents on other roads in the city during the month.

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