6.33 per cent increase in road accident deaths in Bihar

PATNA: The number of deaths in road accidents in Bihar increased by 6.33% last year compared to 2018, according to the latest data of state transport department. The cases of road accidents also increased by 7.07% in the state last year. As per the department’s figures, total 7,155 persons died in 9,979 road accidents in 2019 against 6,729 deaths in 9,600 accidents in 2018.
However, transport department secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal told this newspaper on Sunday that there was 17.9% decline in road accident cases from first half of the year to July-December period in 2019.“Around 5,482 accidents were reported from January to June compared to 4,634 between July and December in Bihar. There is also sharp decline of 20.9% in the number of accident death cases from January-June period to July-December,” he said.
“After the implementation of Motor Vehicles (Amended) Act in September 2019, there were 5.3% and 5.4% decline in death and accident cases in last quarterly (September to December) of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018,” he added.
According to road fatalities data, 3,124 people met with road accidents and 2,215 of them died in September-December quarter of 2018 whereas only 2,953 accidents and 2,097 deaths were reported in the same period last year. “In 12 districts, we have seen a decline of 11% to 35% in yearly accident cases since the implementation of the amended Act compared to the figures of 2018,” he said.
The secretary said Saharsa, Buxar and Banka had 35% decline in road accidents. “The number of deaths in those accidents was also less by 10% to 17%. The DM, SP and district transport officer of these districts will be honoured by the department for their strict vigil,” Agarwal said.
Total 86 people were killed and 91 injured in 117 road accidents in Saharsa district in 2018, compared to 71 deaths in 87 accidents in 2019. Total 81 people died and 36 were injured in Buxar district in 2019 compared to 92 deaths and 78 injuries in 2018.
Other districts that saw decline in road accidents included Begusarai (7.5%), Vaishali (7%), Darbhanga (6.8%), Samastipur (6.3%), Nawada (4.8%), Sitamarhi (3.6%), Bhagalpur (2%), Bettiah (0.7%) and Muzaffarpur (0.6%).
Agarwal said the department has taken several steps this year to reduce the accident cases by 5 to 7%.