Palamu road accidents claim 172 lives in eight months, 239 mishaps reported
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, September 17: The rising number of fatalities in road accidents has emerged as a major concern for…
A view of the Sadak Suraksha Samiti meeting held in Daltonganj.
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, September 17: The rising number of fatalities in road accidents has emerged as a major concern for Palamu, with 172 people losing their lives in 239 road accidents between January and August 2026, according to data released by the district administration.
The figures were shared in a press note issued on behalf of Palamu DC Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat late Tuesday evening. The data shows that road accidents continue to occur across the district, irrespective of road conditions, with speeding, traffic violations and other factors contributing to the mishaps.
In August alone, Palamu recorded 20 road accidents in which 12 people were killed. The victims included teenagers, men and women.
Administrative sources said the number of people injured in road accidents is also significant, with the number of injured generally estimated at around half the number of fatalities.
The district administration has been taking action against traffic violators, particularly in cases involving rash driving and non-use of helmets.
As many as 45 driving licences were suspended in August 2026, while the total number of licences suspended between January and August reached 1,690, according to the press note.
Palamu also has more than half a dozen identified black spots that are considered highly vulnerable to road accidents.
One positive aspect highlighted by sources is that no ambulance carrying a patient has met with an accident in Palamu in the past five years.
Tipper Trucks Under Scrutiny
Tipper trucks, locally known as Hiwa trucks, are considered particularly vulnerable vehicles in road accidents involving pedestrians and other motorists.
A tipper truck driver, when asked why these vehicles have earned a reputation as a major road hazard, said, “Most of the tipper trucks ply with either overloaded metals or have no proper documents for transportation of minerals like sand, stone, boulders, chips etc.”
“The driver of such a tipper truck remains in a hellish speed to reach destination safely without being intercepted by the police stations lying across the roads or highways. The speed is the killer,” the driver added.
Asked whether fear of police or mining department teams leads drivers of such vehicles to speed, the driver said, “It’s true. Overloaded tipper trucks have been seized at night in Palamu. It’s one or two episodes at night on an average a fortnight.”
DC Holds Road Safety Meeting
DC Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat recently held a Sadak Suraksha Samiti meeting at the Palamu collectorate with SP Kapil Chaudhary and other officials to review road safety issues.
Shekhawat has appealed to people to cooperate with the administration and help minimise road accidents in the district.
Civil society activist R K Yadav suggested that school and college students should be exposed to the devastating consequences of road accidents to make them understand the dangers of reckless driving.
“School and college students should be shown the film of road accidents in their devastating form so that they can see for themselves what reckless driving of a scooty or motorbike can cause,” Yadav said.
He also cited an initiative in Haryana, saying damaged vehicles have been displayed along selected highways on poles, accompanied by a message asking motorists whether they would want to see their own vehicle in such a condition.
Festive Seasons Also Witness Accidents
Sources said the incidence of road accidents can also vary according to the season and major social and religious occasions.
The marriage season is considered particularly vulnerable, with vehicles associated with baraat parties sometimes involved in collisions or overturning.
Similarly, road accidents tend to rise around New Year’s Day, with intoxication cited as one of the contributing factors.
Raksha Bandhan is also not free from road mishaps. This year, a sister reportedly died in a road accident on Raksha Bandhan.
In contrast, the four-day Chhath Maha Parv has recorded comparatively fewer road accidents in Palamu over the past two decades, according to Pandit Narayan of Daltonganj. He said that when accidents do occur during the festival, they are sometimes attributed to lapses in observing safety-related precautions.
For Muslims, Muharram is also considered a period requiring greater road-safety awareness, as large gatherings and heightened activity during the nine-day observance can increase traffic-related risks.
With road accidents, fatalities, rash driving, traffic violations and black spots continuing to pose challenges, the district administration faces the task of strengthening enforcement while encouraging motorists, pedestrians and other road users to adopt safer practices.
