Highways turn death traps in Kadapa

Highlights

• A family of nine, belonging to Medak district, was killed in a road accident in Railway Kodur mandal on January 2.
• 24 students died when a tipper collided with the school bus near Pendlimarri village on March 16.
• Two died and 6 were injured when a cement lorry rammed an auto near Ramapuram on February 13.
• Eight were severely injured in Proddatur when a tipper had hit a jeep.

Kadapa: Frequent accidents on the highways of Kadapa district have become a cause of concern among the people of the district. The main highways present in the district are Kurnool to Chittoor, Kadapa to Tirupati and Kadapa to Anantapuramu. Statistic show that over 400 accidents were registered since January this year, out of which about 140 persons have died and 600 were severely injured on these highways. While the cause of accidents are said to be rash driving and drunken driving, traffic authorities face criticism for not installing cameras anywhere in the district giving opportunity to rash drivers to break the rules. Cameras need to be installed at accident prone areas so that the people driving against the rules can be identified. With breath analysers, the people driving after consuming alcohol can be identified. But this facility is only restricted to Kadapa, Proddatur and Rajampet. Many people opine that if the authorities create awareness among the people on traffic rules and how to prevent accidents, it will reduce the number of road mishaps.