Road traffic accident claims

        Following the uproar over the redesign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) intersection, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sought details of accidents, which allegedly took place due to the redesign, from the Mumbai Police. This move comes after corporators slammed BMC which had recently redesigned the traffic junction at CSMT to make it pedestrian-friendly on the lines of Times Square in New York. Corporators alleged that the revamp had led to narrowing of roads for motorists, which lead to more accidents. Rais Shaikh, Samajwadi Party (SP) corporator, claimed that around 40 accidents have taken place after bollards were installed as part of the redesign.The BMC said it has sought details of the accidents and that it would evaluate the situation based on suggestions received from the Mumbai Traffic Police.In a written reply to its standing committee, BMC said, “Information on complaints of increasing accidents has been … [Read more...] about CSMT junction redesign: BMC seeks details of accidents from cops after plaints

        At least 30 people were killed and dozens reported missing or feared dead as relentless rains hammered north India causing widespread flooding, landslides, damage to roads and buildings even as flood alerts were sounded in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh as rivers, including the Yamuna, swelled to dangerous levels.Majority of the damage was reported from the two worst-hit states — Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand — as heavy rains remained unabated through the Himalayan belt. Hundreds were stranded after incessant rainfall triggered landslides, snapped road links, led to shutting down of hydropower projects and release of excess water from dams in the region.As of Sunday evening, rain-related incidents had claimed at least 23 lives in Himachal Pradesh, four in Uttarakhand while dozens were reported injured. In Punjab’s Aol village, three members of a family were killed when the roof of their house collapsed, police said.The … [Read more...] about 30 killed, dozens missing as rain lash north India; flood alerts sounded in 4 states

        PUNE: During 2019, the traffic branch of Pune police took action against nearly 13,000 ‘drink driving’ offenders as against 7,310 offenders in 2018. The Pune police claimed that this was among the reasons for reduced number of road accidents and deaths since 2018. While 204 accidents occurred in 2018 leading to 215 deaths on the city roads during 2018, in the current year, the number reduced to 153 accidents and 151 deaths.Senior traffic police officials said, on an average, between 35-40 drivers were caught driving under the influence of alcohol daily by police teams deployed randomly around the city during night hours.According to statistics compiled by the traffic police, the highest number of challans were issued by police teams deployed in areas close to highways at Hinjeiwadi, Katraj, Hadapsar , Yerawada, Koregaon Park , Baner and Kalyaninagar. Pankaj Deshmukh , deputy commissioner of police (traffic), said, “We catch offenders … [Read more...] about 13,000 offenders booked for drink driving in Pune during 2019