By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 26: A recent incident in Shillong, in which a speeding bike hit a school student leaving him grievously injured, exposed yet again the lack of proper driving discipline in the city in the absence of any checking by the police.
The police are scarcely seen on the roads conducting checking unlike in the past when they would regularly check if people driving vehicles possessed driving licence and other necessary documents. But of late, police personnel have been seen conducting checking during the night hours.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, such drives by the personnel have become rare. Many under-aged youths are seen every day driving cars and riding two-wheelers recklessly, without caring for their safety and that of others.
According to Meghalaya Police, 162 people – 136 males and 26 females – had lost their lives in road accidents in the state last year. Another 310 people were also injured. Altogether 50 people had died and 59 others were injured in mishaps involving two-wheelers.
In 2021, altogether 146 people had lost their lives. The victims included 131 males and 15 females. The number of people injured was 181.
Altogether 29 people were killed and 33 others were injured in mishaps involving two-wheelers.
The Thursday’s accident had left one student of Class 11 of St. Edmund’s School seriously injured. He was hit by a speeding two-wheeler while trying to cross the road near Don Bosco Technical School, Laitumkhrah.
The victim, the biker and the pillion rider were shifted to Woodland Hospital in a local cab.
The student suffered a fracture on his right leg and injury on the head.