Tragic Accidents on Under-Construction Four-Lane Road; Lives Lost Even Before Inauguration
Sultaniganj/Bhagalpur: The under-construction Munger-Mirzachauki four-lane road in Sultaniganj, Bhagalpur district, is rapidly becoming a death trap. Although the construction work is still incomplete and the road has not yet been inaugurated, heavy vehicles have begun speeding through it unchecked. Due to the blatant disregard for safety standards and a lack of traffic discipline, severe road accidents are occurring here almost every day.
Four Deaths in Two Hours at Mirhatti
A recent incident has shaken the entire region. On Friday night, near Mirhatti village in Sultaniganj, two horrific accidents occurred within a span of just two hours, resulting in the loss of four lives. In the first incident, a speeding truck mowed down three friends riding a bike. Just an hour and a half later, at the exact same spot, two trucks collided head-on, killing both drivers. According to eyewitnesses, one truck was coming from the wrong side, which was the primary cause of the accident.
Unregulated Construction and Technical Flaws
Despite the road being under construction, heavy trucks and dumpers are operating on it without any safety signage. Local residents allege that "illegal cuts" have been created at various points on the highway to connect the main road to the lower PCC roads. It remains unclear whether these cuts were intended to facilitate construction work or if they were made by locals for their own convenience; however, they are undoubtedly becoming a cause of death.
Furthermore, heavy vehicles are often parked along the roadside without any reflectors or indicators, inviting accidents in the darkness of the night. Truck drivers coming from outside are often unaware of the four-lane's direction and route, leading them to frequently drive on the wrong side.
Questions Regarding Administrative Apathy
Although the traffic police use 'speed radar guns' on the highway, their efforts appear limited to collecting fines. There seems to be no concrete initiative to curb accidents. There are neither sufficient speed limit signs on the highway nor any control over the tendency of vehicles to overtake recklessly.
Several fatal accidents have occurred in this region over the past few months. Two and a half months ago, a truck mowed down an auto-rickshaw filled with passengers, killing six people. Incidents occurring daily in the surrounding areas, including the Naugachia-Bihpur route, are raising serious questions about the administration's functioning.
Need for Safety Awareness
Local residents argue that the administration should immediately launch a "stop-and-check" campaign and close dangerous turns and illegal cuts. Due to the increasing pressure of vehicles despite the road being under construction, if the security arrangements are not immediately rectified, this "dream project" will continue to prove fatal for the general public. Currently, the police are investigating the matter, but the question remains: when will these deaths stop?
