Road mishaps rise in Tripura

AGARTALA, March 29: Tripura roads have become increasingly dangerous with almost everyday reports of mishaps claiming one or two lives being reported from all parts of the State. The week started with shocking road accident in which a student of Class-X, Abhishek Pal, was run over by a police vehicle at Ker Choumuhani in the heart of the town. Abhishek, who happened to be the only son of journalist Bijoy Pal - chief reporter of CPI(M) party organ Daily Desher Katha was coming from his private tutor's residence when the speeding vehicle dashed him from behind killing him on the spot. The tragic death of Abhishek, a brilliant student who was also involved in cultural activities, had sent a shock wave in the State and the state government instructed traffic police and transport departments to step up vigilance and check rush driving. On the same day, two others were killed in similar road accidents in Dhalai district. The state government's instruction has evidently failed to yield any result as within 36 hours of Abhishek's death, three passengers were killed and 70 others were injured when a bus skidded off the road and hit a tree at Shalbagan in the city outskirts. The passenger bus was engaged in a mad rush competition with commander jeeps carrying passengers on the same road. Only yesterday, a truck hired by the State police, again on breakneck speed, skidded off the road at Birchandramanu in South district and ran into a roadside shop killing three locals on the spot. Two others were injured in the accident. Within 12 hours, this morning, at around 8.30 am a passenger bus going to Khowai from Agartala met with an accident. One passenger was killed on the spot while 25 others received serious injuries. In all the cases, rash and callous driving were responsible for the mishaps. According to reports, the most vulnerable for road accidents are the commander jeeps invariably driven by young boys about 14 to 15 years of age. Those boys despite their age manage driving licence from the vehicle department with the help of some middlemen. In an attempt to carry as many passengers as possible, they drive at meteoric speed meeting with accidents time and again.