Bhubaneswar: The accident rate in Odisha during 2021 increased by 11.89%, as compared to the number of road mishaps in 2020. However, at a surge of 12.64%, the country’s rate of road accidents was more than Odisha, Commerce and Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu said.
In a written reply to BJP MLA Mohan Majhi’s query, Sahu said that there has been a rise of 16.90% in the number of accident deaths in 2021 (over 2020). However, the figure was 7.04% in the case of Odisha – (2021 over 2020).
“The number of accident deaths in Odisha is not the highest in the country. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Committee on road safety has praised the steps taken by the State for checking road accidents,” Sahu said.
On the other hand, the number of deaths due to drunken driving-related accidents is 1.63% of the total number of accidental deaths on roads, she said. “We give training to first responders in all districts, which has been very effective,”