'142 killed during Eid journeys'
A total of 142 people were killed and 324 others injured in 95 road accidents across the country during Eid journeys over the last 11 days till Sunday, making it clear that bus journeys in the country are far more dangerous than it is anticipated.
The accidents took place between 30 May and 9 June on roads, highways, and inter-district and regional roads across the country, including the capital, reports UNB quoting a report released by National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) on Monday.
The NCPSRR's Eid transport management observation and survey report was prepared based on news items published in online versions of several national and regional dailies, online news portals, news agencies and television channels, it said. The report said the transport management on roads and waterways was comparatively better during this Eid than a few years ago. Almost all the highways were free from gridlocks while there were enough launches in Dhaka to carry homebound people to coastal areas, it said.
According to the report, Eid holidaymakers were, however, deprived of desired services from the railway authorities for the schedule collapse of trains.
Besides, the authorities concerned failed to check exorbitant bus and launch fares charged from passengers, the NCPSRR said. It said seven people were killed and eight others received injuries in seven accidents on 30 May while six killed and seven injured in six accidents on 31 May.
On 1 June, 10 people were killed and 31 others injured in 11 accidents. Fifteen accidents on 2 June left 27 people dead and 38 others injured.
On 3 June, at least 13 people embraced death and 14 others sustained injuries in seven accidents. Sixteen people were killed and 62 others wounded in six road accidents on 4 June,
26 killed and 78 injured in 16 accidents on 5 June, the Eid day, 11 killed and 33 wounded in eight road crashes on 6 June and 11 killed and 18 others injured in six accidents on 7 June.
Eight people lost their lives on roads and 11 others received injuries in seven accidents on 8 June while six accidents took place on 9 June when five were killed and 24 others injured.
Ashis Kumar Dey, general secretary of the NCPSRR, told UNB that they have identified six vital reasons for accidents during the Eid holydays.
The reasons include speedy driving to recoup time lost in several ferry ghats and toll stations, reckless driving on free roads, negligence by traffic policemen, drivers' absent mindedness while driving vehicles for pressure from passengers to drop them to their destinations on time, physical and mental unfitness of drivers for making extra trips, tendency to violate traffic rules while overtaking and free movement of three-wheeled vehicles and motorbikes on highways and inter-district roads.