Palampur’s narrow roads turn into death traps for pedestrians
The narrow roads of Palampur have become a serious threat to pedestrian safety, turning into virtual death traps. In the past three months alone, over a dozen pedestrians have been hit by speeding bikers. The growing number of such accidents has raised alarm among locals, but authorities continue to show little urgency in tackling the issue.
The most recent victim is Suajata, an elderly resident of Ram Chowk. She was critically injured after being hit by a speeding bike driven by a minor who lacked a driving license. The police have booked both the minor and his parents under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Indian Penal Code. Suajata remains in critical condition with severe head injuries.
This is not an isolated incident. A retired doctor was also hit by a biker near Rotary Bhavan and has been bedridden for weeks due to multiple fractures. Despite several warnings and earlier reports by The Tribune, authorities have failed to take meaningful action.
One of the major reasons for these accidents is the outdated road infrastructure. While the number of vehicles in Palampur has increased manifold over the years, the road width remains the same as it was three decades ago. Idle parking on both sides of narrow roads has worsened the situation, leaving little space for moving traffic and increasing the risk of fatal accidents. Speeding and rash driving, especially by youngsters, have become common. Yet, few violators are penalized.
Traffic data reveals a disturbing picture. In Himachal Pradesh, the road traffic accident rate stands at 31.54 per lakh population — well above the national average of 29.30. The road accident death rate in the state is 13.77%, compared to the national figure of 10.93%. Similarly, accidents per 10,000 vehicles in Himachal are at 17.37%, higher than the national rate of 15.10%. Deaths per 10,000 vehicles in the state are also higher at 6.93%, while the national average is 5.08%.
Despite these alarming figures, no significant steps have been taken in the past five years to streamline traffic or upgrade road infrastructure. Every year, about 1.4 lakh new vehicles are added to the state, and over 20,000 vehicles enter daily during the peak tourist season. The total number of registered vehicles in Himachal has crossed 20 lakh.
Kangra district, which includes Palampur, records the highest number of pedestrian deaths in road accidents. Other districts like Una and Baddi also report similar trends, mainly due to rash driving, overspeeding, and drunk driving.
Palampur DSP Lokinder Thakur said over a dozen traffic constables have been deployed across the town. However, he emphasised that police alone cannot fix the problem. He urged parents to guide their children and discourage rash and negligent driving. The urgent need of the hour is strict enforcement of traffic laws, improved road planning and active community cooperation.
Himachal Tribune