Road accidents kill 112 in five years

As many as 112 people were killed and 703 others injured in over three hundred road crashes along 32 kilometers highway across the district in the last five years.

Officials of Roads and Highways Department (RHD), Gobindaganj upazila fire fighting unit and highway police in the district recently revealed the statistic.

According to the statistical report, the number of road mishap in the district s increasing gradually every year.

In 2014, 11 persons were killed and eight others injured in 25 mishaps, in 2015, 19 were killed and 17 others injured in 30 accidents, in 2016, 18 were killed and 162 injured in 74 mishaps, in 2017, 25 were killed and 178 injured in 74 crashes and in 2018 till October 20, 39 were killed and 338 injured in 117 mishaps.

Ten probable reasons have been identified for the repeated road mishaps along the 32km highway.

According to police investigation, ten reasons were detected for road accidents like a single driver for long-route bus from origin to destination, drivers often feel fatigue, unskilled and reckless driving, ignoring traffic rules, racing for overtaking, absence of road divider in accident prone spots, bus helpers often driving in lieu of drivers and vehicles plying without fitness certificate.

Abdul Hamid, manager of Gobindaganj upazila fire station, pointed out that while on duty he saw that accidents took place when two speedy vehicles crossed each other from opposite directions, especially at turnings.

He also suggested providing adequate training to bus drivers and helpers and making use of seat belts mandatory for drivers and passengers.

Moreover, all the turning points need to be straightened, because the accident prone turning points are situated at 90 degree angle, he added.

A team of Accident Research Institute of Buet conducted survey on accident prone areas of Gaibandha. The team identified seven most vulnerable points for road accident along 32 kilometer way out of 13 risky turning points.

Meanwhile, Gaibandha RHD also marked 13 accident prone turning points along the highway.

They are Fasitola, Bakchar, Boalia, Kalitola, Chapriganj, Katakhali, Komarpur and Noondaha in Gobindaganj upazila, Nuniyagari, Dakghar, Giridharipur and Bracmore in Palashbari upazila and Dhaperhat in Sadullapur upazila.

Gaibandha RHD Executive Engineer Asaduzzaman said they have no programme to straighten the turning point. Instead they have taken a programme for widening the turning points and placing dividers.

On the other hand, Gaibandha police undertook a plan for halting northern region bound night coaches for refreshment of the drivers to avert drowsiness in the long drive. They arranged washing place and tea break for the drivers at Gobindaganj Highway Police Station premises.

Police set up specially made alert signboard at 13 vulnerable turning points to make aware drivers and are getting fruitful result, said Akhtaruzzaman, officer-in-charge of the police station.