Chandigarh: An auto-driver, who was on his way to pick his son, was killed in a road accident on Sunday night when a rashly-driven Tata Sumo banged into his auto from behind on the Sectors 16/17 dividing road and sped away. As the winter fog sets in, coupled with the habitual reckless and drunk night driving on city roads, such accidents could become more frequent, as cops are hardly being seen on roads at night.

What has added a dash of irony to the tragic incident is that Rakesh Kumar Yadav, son of deceased Ram Shankar Yadav, was only across the road waiting for his father when the accident occurred. The police said he saw the Sumo hitting his father’s auto as it tumbling across the road. The victim was taken to the hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead. Rakesh Kumar worked in a garment shop in Sector 17, and their other family members are in UP.

Official sources said the accident stressed the need for more than ever presence of traffic police in winter nights. Due to decreased visibility, accidents occur more frequently these days. What could only work as an abetment to reckless drivers is that late-night traffic police nakas are no longer visible on roads. Though a traffic inspector said they are continuing with their strategic nakas, in which cops place themselves at some particular place and challan the errant drivers, but their presence is apparently not being seen.

There is need for latenight nakas to dissuade such drivers. If not daily, police should hold such drives frequently,’’ a senior official said. Traffic marshal Gurnam Singh admitted that their nakas are no longer frequent. ‘‘Even the weekend nakas which had been going on for long have become once in a while affair,’’ he said. The police do not seem to be sensitive to loss to life that these accidents cause, officials said.

Source: TOI(Chandigarh-epaper)

Entry Filed under: Other Road Accidents