2,329 dead in 6 months: report

At least 2,329 people, including 291 women and 381 children, were killed and 4,361 injured in 2,159 road accidents across the country in the first half of the current year, says a report of Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum (SCRF).

It says the road accidents took place on various highways, national, inter-district and regional roads between January 1 and June 30.

SCRF prepared the report based on news carried by 22 national dailies, 10 regional newspapers and eight online news portals and news agencies.

According to the report, 411 people, including 53 women and 71 children, lost lives and 725 sustained injuries in 383 accidents in January last.

Some 401 accidents occurred in February in which 415 people were killed and 884 injured. Among the deceased, 58 were women and 62 children.

In March, 386 people, including 46 women and 82 children, were killed and 820 injured in 384 road crashes.

Some 327 accidents occurred in April which claimed 340 lives and left 610 injured. Among the deceased, 38 were women and 53 children.

In May, 338 people, including 47 women and 44 children, lost lives and 504 sustained injuries in 297 accidents.

A total of 367 road crashes took place in June claiming the lives of 439 people and leaving 818 injured. Among the deceased, 49 were women and 69 children.

Ashis Kumar Dey, president of SCRF, told the news agency that racing and reckless driving, contractual leasing of vehicles to drivers or conductors on daily basis, employing drivers without licence, lack of awareness among pedestrians, overloading and overtaking tendency of drivers are some of the reasons behind road accidents.