Karnataka and Bangalore both stand third among the States and 53 megacities respectively in the country with regard to road deaths during 2011.
While Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra precede Karnataka, Chennai and Delhi have outstripped Bangalore in fatal road accidents, according to the National Crime Records Bureau’s report released on Tuesday.
As many as 1,36,834 persons, 20,205 of them women, were killed in road accidents in 2011 in the country. Accidents in Karnataka contributed to 10.2 per cent of these deaths (about 14,000) even though the State stood sixth insofar as the number of vehicles registered in the State.
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Rise in fatalities
The statistics reveal a 2.2 per cent rise in road fatalities in the country in 2011, compared to 2010. Of these, 30,624 were riding two-wheelers, 26,061 were occupants of trucks/lorries, 13,380 were travelling in cars and 12,501 in buses. The number of pedestrians killed on the road by vehicles too was 12,501.
The report mentioned that though 53 megacities accounted for nearly 13.3 per cent of country’s population, they reported comparatively more deaths due to road accidents (16 per cent). It said the highest road casualties were reported in Chennai (9,845 accidents and 1,399 deaths) Delhi, 6,605 accidents and 1,679 deaths and Bangalore, 6,031 accidents and 720 deaths in 2011.
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A range of causes
In all, 3,90,884 people were killed by various types of accidents, including natural and unnatural causes in the country in 2011, the report stated. While 23,690 were killed due to natural causes, including avalanches, cold and heat waves, cyclones, floods, and so on, 3,67,194 were killed in unnatural incidents such as air crashes, collapse of structures, drowning, explosions, falls, fires, sudden deaths, poisoning and traffic accidents, including rail and road deaths.
The month-wise distribution of road accidents showed most occurred in May (41,542), followed by March (37,681). The highest number (73,001) was reported between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., followed by 70,250 cases between 9 p.m. and midnight. The lowest incidence (29,483) was reported between midnight and 3 a.m. in the country, the report said.