GUWAHATI: Guwahati has experienced a disturbing rise in road accidents this November, raising serious concerns about safety and traffic management in the city’s premises. From reckless speeding to poor visibility and inadequate enforcement, several factors can be attributed to the alarming growth of mishaps on the city’s streets.
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First, a major collision in Khanapara on November 1 left residents alarmed, as a speeding vehicle crashed into another car attempting a turn, thereby causing significant damage to both vehicles and claiming the lives of two.
This trend of accidents continued throughout the month. On Thursday, November 28, a vehicle collided with a motorcycle on the Lokhra flyover at around 10 PM, critically injuring the rider. Soon after, in the early hours of Friday, November 29, another severe accident took place near Gauhati University in Jalukbari. A vehicle traveling from Nalbari had lost control and overturned at 2:45 AM, causing substantial damage and leaving the driver critically injured.
Later that same afternoon, two vehicles went on to crash near Kamakhya Gate around 3 PM, further shedding light on the alarming frequency of such mishaps.
In total, three major accidents have been reported in the last 24 hours.
Going back a few days earlier, November 22 proved to be particularly chaotic too, as poor visibility caused by rain and malfunctioning traffic lights contributed to a school bus colliding with a pick-up van in Khanapara. On the same day at the Shraddhanjali Flyover, a motorbike and car collided head-on, leaving the motorcyclist severely injured.
Additionally, near RG Baruah College, a two-wheeler rider collided with a commercial vehicle, although the former escaped with minor injuries.
The recent surge in accidents does not stop here; on November 15, the NH-27 junction near Radisson Blu saw a towing mishap turn into a disaster when the strap securing a vehicle snapped. The resulting chaos culminated in widespread damage to four or five vehicles, and it also injured two individuals who required immediate hospitalisation.
This grave situation has left Guwahati residents worried at the moment. Many blame reckless driving, poor road conditions, non-functional traffic lights, and the absence of traffic officials at critical times. A commuter in Khanapara voiced concerns, stating, “Traffic lights are often non-functional, and officials are missing during peak hours. How can we feel safe under such circumstances?”
Talking to GPlus, a senior traffic police official acknowledged the challenges, noting, “With the increasing number of vehicles in the city, accidents have become more frequent. We’ve intensified enforcement against drunk driving, especially after the Khanapara incident.”