A stretch of National Highway 48 passing through Vadodara has turned into a deadly corridor, witnessing at least seven serious accidents over the past month. The grim tally includes multiple fatalities and numerous injuries, with two separate incidents reported on Sunday alone adding to the toll.
Sunday's Double Tragedy on the Highway
The first incident on Sunday occurred near the Tarsali area. According to police reports, two trucks and a passenger bus, all travelling from Delhi to Mumbai, were involved in a collision. The sequence of events began when one driver allegedly lost control. This led to the two trucks ramming into each other before crashing into the bus. Fortunately, this accident resulted only in minor injuries to some passengers, with no loss of life.
The second accident on the same day had a far more tragic outcome. Near Sundarpura on NH 48, a 50-year-old woman, identified as Jayshree Patel, was killed. She was riding pillion on a motorcycle with her husband when a stray dog suddenly crossed the road. The motorcycle skidded, causing Patel to fall onto the highway. She was then run over by an unidentified vehicle coming from behind. The impact caused severe injuries, and she died on the spot.
A Month of Fatal Crashes on NH 48
The recent accidents are part of a disturbing pattern of fatal crashes on this busy highway segment in recent weeks.
On December 10, a couple riding a motorcycle lost their lives after being hit by a truck near the Kapurai Bridge. That same day, a bus travelling from Junagadh to Surat hit a divider and overturned near Karjan. The driver reportedly lost control while trying to avoid a parked truck, leaving several passengers injured.
The following week, on December 15, two individuals, Dilip Vasava and Gambhir Nayak, were knocked down by an unidentified vehicle near the Waghodia Bypass. Vasava died instantly, while Nayak later succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
The deadly trend continued. On December 22, a speeding truck rammed into a luxury bus that had broken down and was parked along NH 48 near Vasad. This collision resulted in one death and left five others injured.
Just three days later, on December 25, a speeding vehicle struck and killed two pedestrians as they were crossing the road. The victims were identified as Harkha Solanki and her 10-year-old grandson, Vanraj.
An Urgent Call for Road Safety Measures
The cluster of accidents on NH 48 around Vadodara paints a clear picture of a pressing road safety emergency. The incidents involve a mix of causes: speeding vehicles, driver error, stray animals, and parked vehicles creating hazards. The recurring loss of life, including that of children and families, underscores the urgent need for intervention.
Local authorities and highway patrols face mounting pressure to implement immediate corrective measures. These could include enhanced speed enforcement, improved lighting and signage, animal control initiatives near the highway, and public awareness campaigns on safe driving and pedestrian behaviour. The recent tragedies serve as a stark reminder that the safety of one of India's busiest national highways must be prioritised to prevent further loss of life.
