From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Jan 18: Meghalaya’s road accident fatality rate is significantly higher than the national average and exceeds that of several other hilly states. Between 2021 and 2025, Meghalaya recorded 529 deaths due to reckless and drunk driving.
Dr BK Sanjay, president of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Guwahati, characterised rash driving as a “behavioural issue” that can be managed through better education, disciplined practices, and stricter law enforcement. “If the public observes basic precautions and the government increases efforts to enforce laws, this epidemic can be effectively controlled,” he said.
Sanjay was speaking at the launch of his book, Bharat Mein Sadak Durghatnayein, published by the National Book Trust (NBT) at the World Book Fair.
He said road accidents in India have become a “man-made pandemic” claiming more lives than COVID-19, according to Dr BK Sanjay, presenting a factual analysis of the crisis.
He noted that while approximately one in 100 people infected by COVID-19 died, WHO data from 2019 indicates that one out of every three road accident victims lose their lives.
The Padma Shri awardee and orthopaedic surgeon highlighted that fatal road accidents have outpaced historical epidemics such as smallpox, cholera, and influenza. He described the situation as a man-made epidemic that stresses health systems and disproportionately devastates the livelihoods of the most vulnerable.
“Road accidents are hindering the progress of the nation and leaving society physically and mentally disabled, which is why this book is especially dedicated to drivers,” Sanjay said. He attributed nearly 90 per cent of road accidents to driver negligence, citing speeding, overloading, fatigue, and the influence of alcohol or drugs as primary factors.
The Director of National Book Trust, Yuvraj Malik, added that the consequences of neglecting road safety extend beyond the victims, affecting families and society as a whole.
