Eid rush: 207 dead in 158 road accidents over 11 days

At least 207 people were dead and 389 were injured in 158 road accidents in the country over 11 days -- from July 14, Road Safety Foundation said today.

Among the deceased, 29 were women and 17 were children, said a press release of the foundation.

A total of 87 people died in 76 motorcycle accidents, which accounted for 48.1 percent of the total deaths, it said.

Some 43 pedestrians and 32 drivers and helpers were killed in accidents during this period.

At least two people were killed and 26 were injured in four waterway accidents while two persons were killed in two railway accidents.

Road Safety Foundation collected the data from reports in seven national dailies, five online news portals and electronic media.

According to division-wise breakup, Dhaka division saw the maximum number of road accidents while Sylhet witnessed the minimum.

A total of 48 people was killed in 33 accidents in Dhaka and four were killed in as many accidents in Sylhet.

The foundation identified 10 main reasons behind the accidents that include unfit vehicles, speeding, unskilled drivers, slow-moving transport on highways, reckless biking and weak traffic management.     

The organisation also placed 10 recommendations to reduce accidents across the country.