DEHRADUN: The civil society members have called on Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to appoint a full-time head for the State Road Safety Committee, urging immediate action to curb the alarming rise in road accidents across Uttarakhand.
The demand comes as the state reels from a string of fatal mishaps, including a recent tragedy in Bhimtal where four lives were lost in a bus accident, leaving many others injured.
Anoop Nautiyal, President of the SDC Foundation, Dehradun, expressed deep anguish over the mounting death toll on Uttarakhand’s roads.
"In November alone, Uttarakhand witnessed several heart-wrenching incidents. On November 4, a bus crash in Almora claimed many lives.
Then, on November 24, six youths lost their lives in an Innova crash in Dehradun, followed by UKD leader Trivendra Panwar's death in Rishikesh the same day," Nautiyal recounted, adding, "Despite these tragedies, no concrete action has been taken to address road safety in the state."
Nautiyal criticized the government's inertia, pointing out that the State Road Safety Council, mandated to meet every six months, has been dormant for nearly two years.
"The last meeting was held in March 2023. Since then, no meaningful discussions or decisions have been made to tackle this escalating crisis," he said.
Highlighting the grim statistics, Nautiyal revealed that as of November 2023, Uttarakhand had recorded around 1,600 road accidents, resulting in 1,400 injuries and nearly 1,000 fatalities.
He urged CM Dhami to prioritize road safety by launching a “Safe Uttarakhand” campaign and appointing a dedicated leader to oversee it.
“The state needs someone who can devote 80% of their time to road safety. Without strong leadership, the situation will continue to deteriorate. Compared to last year, accidents, injuries, and fatalities have all increased,” Nautiyal said.
He also lamented the lack of accountability following the death of Chandan Ram Das, the former Transport Minister of Uttarakhand, noting that his passing left a leadership vacuum in road safety initiatives.
Nautiyal appealed directly to CM Dhami, saying, "You manage 29 departments, but road safety demands focused and sustained attention. The people of Uttarakhand deserve better."
In a heartfelt message, Nautiyal extended his condolences to the families of the Bhimtal victims and wished a swift recovery to the injured.
"The government must act now. Every day of delay costs lives," he said, urging immediate and sustained action to ensure safer roads in Uttarakhand.
As the toll of inaction grows, the question remains: Will Uttarakhand’s leadership step up to prevent precious life of people?
