Goa sees worrying rate of road fatalities due to negligence

PANAJI
Goa has reported a worrying number of deaths caused by negligence from road accidents, placing it above the majority of other small states such as Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Manipur.
According to the 2023 crime statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the State registered 156 incidents of negligent deaths from road accidents, claiming 185 lives – a rate of 9.9 per lakh population. Hit-and-run cases accounted for 33 incidents resulting in 42 deaths (2.1 per lakh), while 123 other accidents claimed 143 lives (7.8 per lakh). The total fatalities exclude deaths from other causes.
The figures also indicate that Goa has the highest rate of ‘crimes affecting the human body’ among small states in India. The overall rate stands at 50.9 incidents per lakh population, surpassing Sikkim (29.5), Nagaland (8.9), Mizoram (25.8), Meghalaya (37.7) and Manipur (28.2). Even Arunachal Pradesh, which recorded 110 incidents affecting 121 victims, reported a slightly lower rate of 50.2, followed by Tripura at 48.5. Gujarat too fared better with an overall rate of 28.0, despite its larger population and higher influx of visitors.
Concerns over crimes against women remain high. In 2023, Goa recorded 96 incidents of assault with intent to outrage modesty of 107 victims at a rate of 12.3 per lakh. There were 37 cases under Section 354 of the IPC, involving 47 victims (4.7 per lakh). Sexual harassment incidents numbered 34, besides five at workplaces. The State also recorded 97 rape cases involving 98 victims, with a rate of 12.4 per lakh population. Three cases of exploitation of trafficked persons were reported, involving nine victims.
Kidnapping and abduction accounted for 77 cases affecting 85 victims (4.9 per lakh), with 49 cases involving missing children considered kidnapped – a rate of 12.8 per lakh. Offences against public tranquillity included 12 incidents linked to enmity or rivalry, affecting 16 victims at a rate of 0.8 per lakh.
Overall, Goa reported 802 incidents of crimes against the human body, which had 957 victims during the 2023 calendar year.