NEW DELHI: Potholes took a deadly toll in 2017, claiming almost 10 lives daily with annual fatalities in the country adding up to 3,597 — a more than 50% rise over the toll for 2016.
Maharashtra recorded a doubling of deaths at 726 year on year — disheartening evidence that road safety remains a casualty in India.
The magnitude of the problem can be understood from the fact that terrorist activities in India, Naxal attacks included, claimed 803 lives, including that of terrorists, security personnel and civilians, in 2017.
The ‘pothole deaths’ have stirred a debate on inefficiency of and corruption in municipal and road-owning authorities with the government launching campaigns to improve public awareness. But the craters remain a major hazard, with lack of road discipline and many two-wheeler riders not using helmets aggravating the risks.
According to data shared by states with the Centre, Uttar Pradesh logged most such deaths at 987. Two other states that have fared poorly are Haryana and Gujarat. The former reported 522 deaths last year, while it had reported no such fatalities in 2016. Eight people died in Delhi due to pothole-related accidents in 2017 against none the previous year.
The number of people killed near or on roads under construction also increased from 3,878 in 2016 to 4,250 last year.
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