496 killed, 681 hurt in accidents in September

As many as 496 people were killed and 681 injured in 467 accidents that occurred on roads, railways and waterways in September across the country, according to Jatri Kalyan Samity.

Jatri Kalyan Samity, a non-government organisation, prepared the report based on news published in various national, local dailies and online news portals, said a press release today.

Among the casualties, 417 people were killed and 651 injured in 402 road accidents from September 1 to 30. Besides, 51 people were killed and 26 others injured in 49 accidents on the railway while 28 were killed, four injured and three went missing in 16 accidents on the waterways during the same period.

Besides, 5.47 percent of the total accidents across the country were reported in Dhaka city, 0.49 percent in Chattogram city and 0.24 percent in railway crossings.

Among the victims, 10 are members of law enforcement agencies, 143 drivers, 66 pedestrians, 60 transport workers, 65 students, eight teachers, 74 women and 44 children.

The group identified several reasons behind most of the accidents including dangerous overtaking, reckless speed, unfit vehicles, lack of footpaths or grabbed footpaths, sudden entrance of vehicles from feeder roads at railway crossings and highways, and increasing number of small vehicles.

Besides, lack of service lanes on various national and regional highways, and easy bikes, rickshaws, autorickshaws plying national and regional highways were also responsible for accidents, it said.