PANAJI
As the State continues to grapple with an increasing number of road accidents, an average of nine accidents occurred daily from January 1 to January 15, 2024, resulting in 13 deaths. In all, there were around 144 accidents including 16 major collisions that claimed 13 lives across Goa “ which means one person lost his/her life every 27 hours during this period.
A comparison with the corresponding period last year shows a 9 per cent increase in accidents, although fatalities decreased from 16 in 2023 to 13 in 2024.
The very first day of the New Year saw five deaths including that of a youth Ayush Halarnkar, a second-year student at Dhempe College of Arts and Science, who succumbed after falling into an under-construction sewerage chamber at Mala - a Smart City Project. A police constable Ulhas Gaonkar and three others died in separate road accidents at Bhoma, Taleigao, Valpoi and Cuncolim; adding to the Panaji case.
The data further shows that 21 accidents were serious resulting in 26 persons sustaining grievous injuries, while 36 were minor accidents that injured 49 others. Another 74 accidents caused extensive damage to vehicles.
Comparatively, the same period in 2023 recorded 132 accidents of which 17 persons sustained serious injuries in 12 accidents, and 22 minor accidents led to injuring 24 others. Eighty-two accidents led to substantial damage to vehicles during this period.
The 2023 calendar year saw 2,832 accidents, a marginal drop from 3,011 cases in 2022. However, last year also recorded five persons losing their lives every week in road accidents with 70 per cent of fatalities involving two-wheelers. A total of 256 accidents were fatal “ including the infamous Banastarim crash “ killing 276 persons.
