**Keonjhar:** In 2017, 4,790 persons were killed in road accidents in Odisha of which 1,700 were two-wheeler riders. A timely intervention by passersby could have saved many lives. But most of us hesitate to indulge ourselves to help during the ‘golden hour.’
Keonjhar, the mining hotbed of Odisha, is prone to road accidents. The district police, in a bid to sensitise people to help accident victims, came up with a noble scheme of rewards.
Under this scheme, 11 citizens who had helped accident victims over the past few months were given a cash award of Rs 2,000 each on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day.
Keonjhar SP JN Pankaj gave away the reward along with a letter of appreciation to the good Samaritans at a function here today.
During 2017, total 312 persons were killed in road accident in Keonjhar district. This year till June, road accidents claimed 170 lives in Keonjhar district.
“People hesitate to come to the rescue because of the fear of police. If they get an assurance from our end, I am sure it will sensitise them to be good samaritans,” Pankaj said earlier to OMMCOM NEWS.