Hyderabad: Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has made an important appeal to the public during the Dussehra festival. He asked people to pledge to follow traffic rules to prevent accidents.
In a video message shared on Thursday, the minister expressed concern about the increasing number of road accidents. While extending his wishes for Bathukamma and Dussehra, he reminded everyone that accidents can happen suddenly and without warning.
Ponnam Prabhakar shared a personal note, saying, “When accidents happen, we won’t be there to say anything. My mother always advises me to take precautions when I go out.”
The minister also connected the message of Dussehra to road safety. He said, “Dussehra symbolises the victory of good over evil. This Dussehra, when we perform Ayudha pooja with our family members, we should pledge to follow traffic rules, wear helmets, and seat belts.”
He highlighted the alarming statistics of road accidents in India, stating that 1,60,000 people die in road accidents in the country every year. In Telangana alone, an average of 20 people lose their lives daily in such accidents. He stressed the importance of taking precautions to ensure personal safety.
Seated in the driver’s seat of a car, the minister further advised people not to drive under the influence of alcohol. He pointed out that drunken driving is a major cause of road accidents.
The data reveals that 8,184 people died in road accidents in Telangana in 2022. The state saw a total of 22,235 accidents, with overspeeding responsible for 85% of them.
There has also been a worrying rise in accidents within the limits of Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Rachakonda Commissionerates, which cover Greater Hyderabad and nearby areas. Cyberabad alone saw a 21% increase in road accidents by July 2024, with 2,365 accidents compared to 1,947 in 2023.
