Death Roads' in Saharsa: Road Accidents Rising Due to Speeding and Illegal Cuts, Administration Remains Silent
Saharsa: The graph of road accidents is rising rapidly in Saharsa district, often referred to as the gateway to the Kosi region. Major lifelines like NH 327E and NH 107 are becoming "death roads." Accidents on these routes in recent times have not only shattered dozens of families but have also raised serious questions about the administrative functioning. Over-speeding, disregard for traffic rules, and illegal cuts on the roads have emerged as the primary causes of these mishaps.
Primary Causes of Accidents: An Analysis
Several factors are responsible for the increasing number of road accidents in Saharsa, the most prominent of which are:
Speeding and Negligence: Since the widening of roads, vehicle speeds have become unchecked. It is common to see heavy vehicles and small cars speeding on NH 107, which increases the probability of accidents manifold.
Illegal Cuts: Illegal cuts have been created at various places along NH 327E and NH 107. These cuts have been made without any safety standards, causing vehicles to suddenly enter the main road, making collisions with high-speed traffic inevitable.
Improperly Constructed Speed Breakers: Speed breakers installed for safety often do not follow scientific norms. In many places, they are either too high or lack warning signages, which in themselves become the cause of accidents.
Violation of Traffic Rules: Riding bikes without helmets, wrong-side driving, and overloading are common sights on Saharsa's roads. No strict administrative campaigns are being conducted to curb these violations.
The Poor State of Major Highways
The condition of NH 327E and NH 107 is particularly alarming. Commuters on these routes often report that encroachments along the roadsides and a plethora of illegal cuts have made driving extremely risky. The safety standards that should have been followed during road construction were subsequently compromised for commercial interests. Business owners have broken dividers or roadsides to create unauthorized paths for their own convenience.
Apathy of the Administration and Police
Locals and social activists argue that the police and the transport department only perform formalities like compensation or filing FIRs after an accident occurs. If these illegal cuts were closed in time and speed breakers were standardized, hundreds of lives could be saved. Even after identifying 'Black Spots' on the roads, necessary corrective measures are not being implemented.
What is the Solution?
According to experts and local residents, the following steps are essential to reduce these accidents:
Identification and Permanent Closure of Illegal Cuts: The district administration, in coordination with the NHAI, should immediately close all illegal cuts.
Standardized Speed Breakers and Signboards: All speed breakers should be constructed according to IRC (Indian Roads Congress) standards, with reflective paint and warning boards installed.
Intensive Checking Campaigns: Regular drives against helmet-less riding, failure to use seat belts, and wrong-side driving must be conducted.
Awareness: Awareness programs should be organized at regular intervals for youth and drivers to educate them about the importance of traffic rules.
The rise in road accidents in Saharsa is a collective failure. If the concerned departments do not wake up now, this crisis may deepen further in the coming days. Public safety must remain above any development project. The administration needs to step out of the claims of 'Road Safety Month' and take concrete, ground-level action to prevent the shedding of blood on the roads.
