Sanjeev Kumar Patro

Bhubaneswar:  Despite road fatalities in Odisha dropping by an average of 15 per cent post MVA implementation, the toll of 15 a day on road looks very disgusting.

Moreover, the cumulative count of fatalities on road in Odisha from January - October have been higher than the corresponding period in 2018, which shows why new MVA implementation is highly imperative in the State.

A report on road accidents released by State Road Safety Council today brings out many startling trends on road accidents in the State. The report shows the fatality count on Odisha roads during Jan - Oct stood higher at 4,476 vis-a-vis 4,270 in the same period in year 2018.  Even, the number of fatal road accidents in the State during the period of Jan-Sep 2019 had risen by 7.5 per cent to 4,115.

As per the report, the Sambalpur  - Sohela stretch of National Highway -53 has been identified as the biggest killer stretch in Odisha.  Over 13 die every 10 km on this NH-53 section. The NH-316 section of Bhubaneswar - Puri follows with 12 deaths every 10 km.

Though the NH section between Jaleswar and Ichhapurm sees 11 deaths per 10 km, the section bears the highest burden of road fatality in absolute numbers. On average, the NH section witnessed 521 deaths a year. It is followed by stretches of Manguli - Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar - Puri.

Sambalpur - Rourkela section of the State Highway -10 records least fatal accidents. The fatality toll in the SH section is only 4 per 10km.

A district-wise glance reveals that as many as 11 districts in the State have recorded a fall in road fatalities in 2019. Sundergarh with 343 deaths in Jan - Oct 2019 topped the State. Ganjam with 315 and Khurda with 296 followed.

The report made an observation that fatalities have grown at a high rate in districts like Boudh, Rayagada, Sonepur, Kandhamal, Deogarh and Malkangiri, where the vehicle population are comparatively less. "This highlights the need to ensure strict adherence to road safety norms," said the report.

In road safety offences, maximum drunken driving detection has been reported in Phulbani, whereas Ganjam topped in overspeeding and using mobile while driving. Maximum cases of riding without helmet were detected in Chandikhol, which is followed by Gajapati.

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