438 killed in road accidents during Eid journey: Passenger Welfare Association

438 killed in road accidents during Eid journey: Passenger Welfare Association

A total of 442 accidents occurred across the country during the 15-day Eid-ul-Azha homebound journey, killing 438 people and injuring 1,340, according to the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh (PWAB).

The information was revealed at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity's Sagar-Runi Hall on Sunday, June 7, by the association's secretary general Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury.

During Eid-ul-Azha, 394 road accidents killed 402 people and injured 1,294. On railways, 31 accidents killed 23 and injured 30. On waterways, 17 accidents killed 13 and injured 16.

The association observed that rain had created potholes on major portions of highways, increasing motorcycle accidents due to reckless speeding. Dilapidated roads, existing defects and drivers' tendency to violate laws have contributed to the rising trend of road accidents. Additionally, due to a driver shortage, nearly 80 per cent of vehicles were operated non-stop by a single driver, increasing accident risks.

Some bus owners, driven by excess profit, put expired and defective vehicles on the road without repairs. This Eid saw more passenger buses losing control and falling into ditches or roadside areas.

Compared to last Eid-ul-Azha, road accidents increased by 3.95 per cent, fatalities by 3.07 per cent and injuries by 9.47 per cent.

Motorcycles topped the accident list again, with 153 motorcycle accidents killing 159 and injuring 180, accounting for 38.83 per cent of total road accidents.

Among the dead and injured, 80 were drivers, 89 transport workers, 59 pedestrians, 64 women, 45 children, 66 students, five law enforcers, three teachers, one doctor, three journalists, one engineer and four political party activists.

Of the accidents, 46.44 per cent were head-on collisions, 29.18 per cent hit-and-runs, 17.25 per cent vehicles losing control and falling into ditches, 1.52 per cent train-vehicle collisions and 5.58 per cent other causes.

Fifty per cent of accidents occurred on national highways, 30.71 per cent on regional roads and metropolitan areas, 0.25 per cent in Chattogram metropolis, 1.52 per cent at railway crossings and 14.46 per cent on feeder roads.