Urgent need for safety measures on Bhatkal Highway as accidents continue unabated
Bhatkal: The growing number of fatal accidents on the national highway passing through Bhatkal town has become a matter of grave concern, with both human and animal lives being lost almost every week. Citizens allege that despite repeated incidents, the administration and elected representatives have failed to take adequate steps to address the issue.
On Saturday morning, a tragic accident occurred in front of Nooru Masjid, claiming the life of a man on the spot, while a woman sustained serious injuries. Such incidents have become disturbingly frequent, raising alarm among residents. While there may be several reasons behind the recurring mishaps, locals point to two major causes in particular.
Lack of Traffic Police Presence
Firstly, there is no permanent deployment of traffic police personnel along the stretch of the highway that runs through the town. This absence has led to reckless driving and poor enforcement of traffic rules.
Dangerous BSNL Slope
Secondly, the steep slope near the BSNL office on the bypass has become a dangerous spot. Vehicles moving uphill and downhill often find themselves in precarious situations, resulting in accidents and traffic congestion.
Also Read: Bhatkal: Rider killed on spot as tanker hits bike, runs over him; wife seriously injured
Other High-Risk Areas
Apart from these, several other points in the town have emerged as accident-prone zones. Near Circuit House, vehicles entering from the old town and moving towards Hospital Road or Anjuman College Road face the constant risk of colliding with heavy trucks from behind. The problem worsens on Sundays due to the rush of market vehicles.
Similarly, KSRTC bus stand, Shamsuddin Circle, Rangeen Katte, and other busy junctions are proving equally unsafe for commuters. Pedestrians, especially near the BSNL slope, are also left vulnerable due to the absence of basic facilities to safely cross or climb the stretch.
Public Appeal
Concerned citizens have put forward a set of urgent demands to the local authorities and people’s representatives:
* Permanent deployment of traffic police personnel at all accident-prone locations.
* Installation of barricades along the highway to enforce speed control.
* Mandatory red traffic lights at these barricades and other danger zones.
Residents stress that even a small lapse can lead to major tragedies. They are urging every citizen to raise their voice before their representatives and pressurise the administration to act urgently. For them, it is not just a matter of convenience, but of saving precious human lives.
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Electorate in 9 states, UTs shrink by 1.70 crore after SIR
New Delhi (PTI): Voter base in nine states and Union territories has shrunk by more than 1.70 crore following the publication of final electoral rolls as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), according to official data.
The data shared by the chief electoral officers of Gujarat, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa and Kerala on Saturday showed that their combined voter base stood at over 21.45 crore before the SIR exercise began on October 27 last year.
It shrunk to 19.75 crore after publication of their final electoral rolls this week, a net change of over 1.70 crore electors.
While the exercise, which kept the Election Commission in the spotlight, has been completed in Bihar, it is currently underway in 12 states and Union territories covering nearly 60 crore electors.
The remaining 40 crore electors will be covered in 17 states and five Union territories.
In Assam, a "special revision", instead of SIR, was completed on February 10.
Due to a variety of reasons, the SIR in the nine states and three Union territories have seen frequent tweaking in schedules.
As in Bihar, political parties have approached the Supreme Court challenging the exercise in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
