The Rajasthan High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of reports over the worrisome loss of human lives in gruesome road accidents at various places, including Phalodi, Jaisalmer, and Jaipur.
A division bench of the court, headed by Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati, while taking cognizance of the matter on Tuesday, sought a report from the state government on plans and measures taken or being taken by the officials to prevent the tragic incidents.
The court has also appointed an amicus curiae to make suggestions in the matter for curbing accidents. A letter petition is also submitted by a lawyer, Rajendra Sharma, before the Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. The court has sought a reply from Advocate General Rajendra Prasad.
The rising trend in road accidents seems to be a pan-India issue; however, several tragic mishaps with high casualties in recent weeks in Rajasthan have attracted the attention of the entire country.
Notable among these, a massive fire in a Jodhpur-bound AC sleeper coach took place on October 14 on the outskirts of Jaisalmer, claiming the toll of 28 lives. Several injured.
Just two days ago, on Sunday last, 16 people, including 10 women and 4 children, were killed in a massive collision between a Tempo Traveler and a stationary truck near Matoda on the Bharatmala Road in Phalodi district.
Yesterday, on November 2, 14 people were killed and around 10 were injured when an uncontrolled dumper ploughed through pedestrians and two-wheelers, hitting many other vehicles in the Harmada area of Jaipur.
A report said that more than 100 people have died in road accidents in the state in almost a month.