180 killed, 344 injured over eight days of Eid rush

At least 180 people were killed and 344 were injured in 130 road accidents over eight days of Eid rush, Nirapad Sarak Chai said yesterday.

Besides, two people were killed in two incidents involving trains. On waterways, three people were killed, 11 were injured and 10 went missing in three accidents between August 10 and 18, it said.

Liton Ershad, acting secretary general of the road safety campaigning group, disclosed the information at a press briefing held at Jatiya Press Club, according to a press release.

The Nirapad Sarak Chai report was prepared based on news of different newspapers, online news portals, television channels, and news agencies. Besides, data was also collected by activists of its 120 branches across the country.

According to the report, a total of 184 people were killed and 332 injured in 127 accidents during the rush centring Eid-ul-Fitr this year.

The organisation said holidaymakers -- especially people heading to northern districts -- faced more hassle during the rush of Eid-ul-Azha compared to that of Eid-ul-Fitr. On the other hand, people taking the train suffered due to delay in schedules.

The organisation blamed reckless driving and tendency to overtake other vehicles, carrying passengers in cargo and unfit vehicles, vehicles being driven by unskilled drivers and helpers, driving vehicles without any breaks, tendency to carry excess passengers, operation of banned three-wheelers and motorcycles on highways as major reasons behind accidents.

The campaign group also came up with a number of observations and suggestions, which include monitoring the roads and highways not only before Eid but also afterwards, incorporating fixed work hours and salaries for drivers and helpers, taking steps to provide proper training to drivers and issuance of driving licences, preventing vehicles from carrying extra passengers, creating separate lanes on highways for fast, small and large vehicles.

It also came up with some recommendations for the long run, including public awareness campaigns on road safety in the media, inclusion of road safety awareness in school curriculum, implementing traffic rules and regulations strictly to curb irregularities.