Diglipur, Feb 13: A social worker from Hope Town, Ms. VD Leju, has written to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, drawing attention to the increasing number of road accidents in the islands. In his letter, Ms. Leju cites the recent death of a teacher in a tragic accident at Bambooflat, which he claims was caused by a fully loaded heavy vehicle.
According to Ms. Leju, the site of the accident is a dangerous spot due to a sudden curve with gradual elevation, where vehicles coming from the opposite side are not visible until one reaches close. She has called for the immediate construction of speed breakers at the site and in all other accident-prone areas in the islands.
Ms. Leju also highlights the problems caused by heavy vehicles, particularly dumper trucks, tipper lorries, and trailers, which ply on the roads during peak hours and pose a great threat to human lives. She suggests that the movement of these vehicles should be restricted during peak hours, and calls for stern action by the Motor Vehicles Department against erring vehicles.
Ms. Leju also points out that accidents are not only caused by the negligence of drivers but also by insufficient road-width in many places. She has requested the Andaman & Nicobar Administration to ban the plying of tipper lorries and other heavy vehicles during peak times, particularly near schools, to prevent accidents.
The social worker has requested the Chief Secretary to take necessary action to reduce road accidents in the islands, and has copied the letter to the Director General of Police and the Chief Engineer of the APWD for information and action.
The residents of Andaman & Nicobar Islands are hoping for swift and effective action from the administration to address this pressing issue and ensure the safety of commuters on the roads.
