On July 14, last year during the Godavari Maha Pushkaram, Appalaraju, driver of a Tata Magic van, who was ferrying 10 pilgrims for a holy dip to Rajahmundry from Narasannapeta in Srikakulam district, dozed off near Sabbavaram, and collided with an Eicher van coming in the opposite direction at around 3 a.m.
Two of the pilgrims B. Yerrapudu (60) and K. Subhdramma (38) died on the spot and Appalaraju died will undergoing treatment at a hospital.
In another accident, a Tata Ace truck carrying pilgrims from Pushkaram fell off the bridge over a culvert at A. Koduru village in Chodavaram mandal of Visakhapatnam district killing four and injuring 23, on July 21. The driver had allegedly again dozed off. These were a couple of the several accidents that took place during the Godavari Maha Pushkaram, across the State. As per the police records 23 pilgrims died in accidents in different parts, either while reaching the destination or on return. Speaking to The Hindu , Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) K. Mahendra Patrudu, who is on deputation to Krishna Pushkaram, said managing the crowd near the ghats is one aspect, but what is worrying us is the road accidents during the period. “It was pretty high during the Godavari Pushkaram,” he said.
Mr. Mahendra Patrudu is opposed to driving at night. “It is always better to avoid driving at night, especially during the wee hours. This is the time, when most drivers tend to doze off. And if driving at night cannot be avoided then it is necessary that two drivers take turns of the driving,” he said. “Take a break for every 50 or 60 km, fresh up and then continue. Hot beverages can work wonders to refresh a driver both physically and mentally,” he said. It was also seen that most of the transport operators were making multiple trips, without proper rest, to make some extra money and putting pilgrims life at stake.
The police are gearing up to set-up additional check-posts to curb drunken driving and overloading.
“Drunken driving will be strictly enforced, but overloading might be relaxed with a warning on the first offence, since we do not want to disappoint the pilgrims,” said a senior police officer.
According to Visakhapatnam SP Rahul Dev Sharma, special check-posts and mobile teams will be deployed in all sensitive areas.
Vehicle fitness
While the transport operators, especially those who operate small vans and autos, are gearing up to ferry the pilgrims, particularly those from rural areas, the RTA and the police officials are working out a plan to check such vehicles.
M. Bhaskar Rao, a Tata Magic operator, who made good money during the Godavari Pushkaram by charging Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,000 from each pilgrim, said he had got fitness certificate for his vehicle. He, however, said many have not bothered to even repair their vehicles.
“Unfit vehicles will not be allowed to ply if caught,” said ACP (Traffic) Kinjarapu Prabhakar. Based on the experience of Godavari Pushkaram, Mr. Prabhakar feels that the toll gates should be relaxed for the pilgrims.
The bottlenecks were the toll gates, during the earlier Pushkaram. There would be huge traffic jams and this resulted in many accidents as the drivers would increase the speed due to the delay at the toll gates.
