Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
Udham Singh Nagar district continues to witness a troubling rise in road accidents, with a large number of fatalities despite efforts by government officials. From January to July 2024, 144 people have lost their lives in 228 road accidents, and 151 others have been seriously injured.
According to official data, 259 people died in 419 accidents in 2022, while 301 lives were lost in 425 accidents in 2023. The primary cause of these accidents has been identified as overspeeding. “Overspeeding has been the major cause of road accidents in the district,” an official from the Traffic Department said. “There were 396 accidents due to overspeeding in 2022, 390 in 2023, and 207 so far in 2024.”
In addition to overspeeding, other causes include driving in the wrong direction and not wearing helmets. This year, nine accidents have occurred due to vehicles moving in the wrong direction, and several people have been critically injured or lost their lives due to the non-use of helmets by two-wheeler riders.
Recent incidents underscore the severity of the problem. On August 21, four people, including a pregnant woman, died in a horrific accident on the Nainital Highway when a speeding car collided with an e-rickshaw. The District Magistrate has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Another fatal accident occurred on Thursday when a truck ran over a pedestrian in Pantnagar industrial area.
