Discrepancy in data on road accidents by minors provided by Union govt in Rajya Sabha: Report
New Delhi: A discrepancy has emerged between the road accident data provided by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the figures reported by the Tamil Nadu state government regarding accidents caused by minors.
The data presented by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in a written response in the Rajya Sabha on March 19 claimed that Tamil Nadu, based on the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) system, recorded the highest number of road accidents involving minors from 2023 to 2024, with 2,063 cases, as reported by The Hindu.
However, the Tamil Nadu police, upon verifying the figures from the iRAD system, found that only 473 accidents caused by minors were recorded in Tamil Nadu during the same period. These included 204 accidents in 2023 and 269 in 2024.
A senior official from the Traffic and Road Safety wing of the State Director General of Police questioned the accuracy of the Union government's data, remarking, "Where is 200 and where is 2,000? Clearly, there is an error here."
State data showed that the total number of challans issued to guardians and parents of juveniles stood at 41 in 2023 and 80 in 2024. However, Bihar topped the country in this regard, issuing 1,316 challans and collecting a revenue of Rs 44.27 lakh.
The iRAD system receives data through the State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB), which is part of the Tamil Nadu Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), The Hindu report stated while quoting the official.
Furthermore, the official noted a 17% decrease in fatal road accidents in Tamil Nadu during the first two months of 2025. The state recorded 2,576 fatal accidents resulting in 2,678 deaths in January and February 2025, a drop from the 3,110 fatal accidents and 3,253 deaths in the same period in 2024, the report added.
A senior official from the Transport and Road Safety Commissionerate also highlighted that Tamil Nadu was the only state in India with a policy to suspend driving licenses for not wearing wear helmets and seat belts. This policy is in addition to the six traffic violations listed by the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety that could lead to a driving license suspension: over speeding, overloading, drunk driving, mobile phone usage while driving, jumping red lights, and overloading passengers in goods carriages.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
