Bhubaneswar, March 13: The Odisha Assembly on Thursday revealed alarming road accident statistics, with the state witnessing an average of 11,366 accidents annually over the past five years. 

In a written reply to BJD Rairakhol MLA Prasanna Acharya, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena stated that 10,008 people were injured and 5,433 lives were lost due to road mishaps in the state.

The minister attributed the rise in accidents to the increasing number of vehicles and frequent violations of traffic rules. To tackle this crisis, the Odisha government has launched several initiatives aimed at enhancing road safety.

Awareness campaigns are being conducted through print, electronic, and audio media to educate the public on traffic regulations. Under the Subahaka Yojana, refresher training is being provided to heavy vehicle drivers, ensuring they adhere to safe driving practices.

Additionally, the government has implemented the Rakshak program, which has trained around 13,000 first responders in road safety and first aid. Similarly, over 11,000 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets have been trained under the Junior Guards Programme to assist in road safety management and primary medical care.

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