Nagaland: Over-speeding, U-turns turn deadly

Our Reporter
Dimapur, July 11 (EMN): The completion of four-lane road along the National Highway 29 in Dimapur and Chümoukedima may have eased the traffic but the increase in the number of accidents on the stretch of road has become a matter of concern for the citizens.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Bharat Laxman Markad, informed Eastern Mirror that at least seven persons were killed in road accidents on this stretch of road between July 1 and 11 this year.

On July 2, five persons were killed when a truck hit a regional taxi (Ecco van) on the national highway at New Chümoukedima near Jharnapani.

In a separate incident on July 7, two persons died on the way to hospital, after their scooty hit an oil tanker near Nagaland Police Complex 1st gate.

36 road accidents in June

According to the data provided by the DCP (Crime), 36 cases of road accidents were reported in June 2022 in Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland District. Of this, one died, two persons grievously injured, nine received minor injuries and 24 were unhurt. 

It may be mentioned that Dimapur, Niuland and Chümoukedima districts are headed by one commissioner of police despite the bifurcation into three administrative units.

Cause of accident

The DCP (crime) told this newspaper that most road accidents on the four-lane road occur while taking U-turns and over speeding in the wrong lane.

He said that nobody should play blame game but take the responsibility on personal safety as well as inculcate civic sense.

He also said that “nonsense confidence” is another reason for accidents, adding that many drivers tend to drive speedily even in the wrong lane.

Maintaining that ‘citizens should be civilised’, he said people behind the wheel should be more careful because their irresponsible driving can kill them and others.

Limiting speed doesn’t help

The police officer maintained that setting speed limit for vehicles travelling on the highway “is of no use” as the state doesn’t have modern technologies to check the speeds of cars.

He said that accidents involving auto rickshaw are low, while two-wheeler accidents are high.

On traffic congestion in Dimapur town, he said that the Police department is penalising traffic violators (including parking) by issuing challans but maintained it is a “bottleneck” as there are no parking spaces in the city; and that business will be affected if strict law is enforced on parking.

He went on to say that they are discussing with the concerned departments to provide alternatives to ease the traffic congestion in the city.