Goa, renowned for its picturesque landscapes and vibrant culture, is grappling with a concerning surge in road accidents during the initial weeks of 2024. The year started with accidents on the very first day as Goa witnessed a series of unfortunate incidents in the first Fortnight January with significant accidents occurring back-to-back in a matter of hours.
There have been 16 recorded road accident in Goa to far, of which 14 have been fatal and only two have been non-fatal.
On Tuesday, January 16, tragedy struck near Delfinos in Porvorim when a head-on collision between a two-wheeler and an SUV claimed the life of a physically disabled individual. The fatal incident unfolded at 4:30 in the morning, leaving the driver dead at the scene. In another incident around 9 am on the same day, a car turned turtle in Patto, Panjim, causing heavy traffic congestion. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties in this particular incident.
The sombre beginning of the new year continued as Goa experienced four fatal accidents in various locations, including Panaji, Taleigao, Bhoma, and Valpoi. In Panjim, a self-accident claimed the life of 21-year-old Ayush Halarnkar, son of former CCP corporator Rupesh Halarnkar, as his bike broke through a barricade and fell into an under-construction sewerage chamber. On the second day of the month, another fatal accident that took place at Opa Junction, Khandepar, Ponda, between a 2-wheeler and a courier service tempo resulted in the untimely demise of a 55-year-old Ponda resident Suresh Naik. These incidents collectively resulted in nine deaths within the first three days of the year.
Adding to the alarming trend, the state struggles with the pervasive issues of high-speeding vehicles and non-compliance with traffic rules. On January 14, late Sunday night, two fatal accidents occurred due to over-speeding. A head-on collision between a KTM and Hero Honda bike at Succoor resulted in the death of the KTM rider, while the Hero Honda rider sustained critical injuries. In Sirlim, a self-accident claimed the life of 28-year-old Sattya Rajkumar Thomar, who lost control of his car and collided with a tree on the Margao-Cuncolim highway.
As Goa’s accident rate rises, self-inflicted injuries account for a sizable portion of traffic incidents. One such incident occurred on Friday, January 13, on the highway near Varunapuri, Vasco. Rutul, a 34-year-old Navy employee, was killed in a self-accident when he collided with a parked car. Despite rushing to the nearest medical facilities, Rutul succumbed to injuries. There are many parallels between Rutul’s (34) and Sattya Rajkumar Thomar’s (28), self-accidents. Most self-accidents happen at night as a result of driving too fast and being sleepy.
High-speed collisions are not the sole concern; the blame extends to the government’s alleged irresponsibility in appointing traffic personnel and maintaining traffic signals. A recent fatal accident at Nuvem Junction on 13 January highlighted this issue when a speeding four-wheeler collided with a rickshaw, leaving the rickshaw driver severely injured. The incident raises questions about the government’s commitment to addressing safety concerns at accident-prone junctions.
