Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady
Beltangady, Oct 24: The series of vehicular accidents continues in the Charmadi town area, where rain-slicked roads have turned into a severe hazard for motorists. Two separate accidents took place on five days ago; fortunately, passengers in both incidents escaped with minor injuries.
On Sunday evening, a KSRTC bus heading towards Ujire collided with a car in Charmadi town before crashing into a tempo. The occupants of the car sustained minor injuries, and the tempo was damaged. The collision disrupted vehicular movement, triggering a traffic jam that lasted for about an hour and caused significant hardship for commuters and drivers alike.
Another accident occurred on Monday evening when a goods tempo lost control and overturned along the roadside. The occupants of the tempo managed to escape with minor injuries. With accidents occurring across two consecutive days, serious concerns have surfaced regarding road safety in the Charmadi town stretch.
Charmadi town witnesses high traffic density, and slippery road conditions during rains make it even more dangerous. Locals urge authorities to prioritize road safety proactively rather than waiting to respond only after accidents occur.
Residents have demanded that the National Highways Authority inspect accident-prone spots, repaint faded road markings, establish proper safety systems to prevent vehicles from skidding during the rainy season, and install essential precautionary safeguards in high-risk zones. Otherwise, they warn, the fear of recurring accidents will continue to plague Charmadi town.
Whenever it rains in the Charmadi town area, the highway becomes extremely slippery. Continuous downpours over the past two to three days have made it hard for drivers to maintain vehicle control on the wet surface. On a national highway heavily frequented by large commercial vehicles, even slight lapses can lead to major mishaps. The National Highways department had previously painted transverse anti-skid road markings to prevent vehicles from sliding; however, locals allege that these markings on the asphalt have completely worn off, causing tires to lose traction whenever it rains.