Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
Despite ongoing efforts by the State Transport Department and the Police to curb road accidents through awareness and checking campaigns, Uttarakhand continues to witness a troubling rise in such incidents. While some districts have seen improvements, others report an alarming increase in casualties.
According to data from the Uttarakhand Police Department, the number of people injured in road accidents rose from 1,367 in 2023 to 1,443 by October 2024. Similarly, deaths increased from 838 in 2023 to 848 in 2024. District-wise analysis reveals a mixed trend, with some areas showing improvement and others deteriorating.
Dehradun and Haridwar saw a sharp rise in accidents and fatalities. In Dehradun, accidents climbed from 373 in 2023 to 435 in 2024, while deaths increased from 151 to 158. Similarly, Haridwar recorded 375 accidents in 2024, up from 336 in 2023, with fatalities rising from 225 to 242.
Other districts such as Champawat, Pithoragarh, Almora, and Tehri also reported increased accident cases. Meanwhile, fatalities in Rudraprayag doubled, with 21 deaths in 2024 compared to nine in 2023. However, districts like Udham Singh Nagar and Uttarkashi witnessed a decline in accidents. Udham Singh Nagar recorded 331 accidents in 2024, down from 342 in 2023, with fatalities dropping from 236 to 214.
Officials attribute the rise in accidents to reckless driving, poor road conditions, and inadequate public awareness about road safety. However, areas that experienced a decline in accidents credit consistent awareness campaigns.
“Continuous awareness and strict checking campaigns have significantly reduced accidents in Udham Singh Nagar,” said ARTO Vimal Pandey. “We aim to replicate this success across other districts through intensified efforts.”
The situation remains particularly grim in the major districts of Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar, which collectively accounted for 1,274 accidents and 720 fatalities in 2024 alone.
Experts said that there is a need for better road infrastructure, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and sustained public awareness campaigns to reduce accidents. Targeted initiatives in accident-prone areas could further mitigate the risks.
The data on road accidents and fatalities in Uttarakhand for the years 2023 and 2024 highlights significant trends across various districts. In 2023, Uttarkashi recorded 15 accidents and 24 deaths, while in 2024, these figures decreased to 13 accidents and 15 deaths. Similarly, Tehri saw an increase from 42 accidents and 35 deaths in 2023 to 45 accidents and 31 deaths in 2024. Chamoli reported a slight rise in accidents, from 14 in 2023 to 15 in 2024, although fatalities dropped from 11 to 9. Rudraprayag experienced a notable rise in deaths, increasing from 9 in 2023 to 21 in 2024, despite the number of accidents remaining constant at 10.
Pauri Garhwal showed an upward trend in both accidents and fatalities, with accidents increasing from 22 in 2023 to 25 in 2024, and deaths rising from 10 to 24. Dehradun reported the highest number of accidents among all districts, escalating from 373 in 2023 to 435 in 2024, while fatalities also increased slightly from 151 to 158. Haridwar followed a similar trend, with accidents rising from 336 in 2023 to 375 in 2024, and deaths climbing from 225 to 242.
Nainital saw a decrease in accidents, dropping from 168 in 2023 to 133 in 2024, although fatalities increased from 97 to 106. Udham Singh Nagar, another high-incident district, recorded a slight decline in accidents, from 342 in 2023 to 331 in 2024, along with a reduction in fatalities from 236 to 214. Smaller districts like Almora, Pithoragarh, Champawat, and Bageshwar showed mixed trends. Almora recorded an increase in accidents from 13 in 2023 to 17 in 2024, but fatalities remained low, rising only from 5 to 8. Pithoragarh saw an increase in accidents from 15 to 20 but a steep decline in fatalities from 16 to 3. Champawat reported an increase in accidents from 14 to 20, while fatalities remained steady at 13. Bageshwar saw a minimal rise in accidents, from 3 in 2023 to 4 in 2024, with fatalities decreasing slightly from 6 to 4.
