Guwahati, Sept 1: The number of road accidents has declined in Meghalaya in 2023 although the fatalities witnessed a rise during the period, according to the Road Accidents 2023 report released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
There were 246 road accidents in the state during the 2022 calendar year and the number came down to 223 in 2023, according to the report.
However, while 162 persons died in road accidents in Meghalaya in 2022, the number increased to 168 in 2023, witnessing a modest 3.7% increase during the period.
In the North East, the report says, with some marginal fluctuations, the percentage share of the region’s states in total accidents has been constant during the past five years, i.e. 2019 to 2023. Among the North Eastern States, Assam recorded the highest number of accidents during 2019-23.
Tripura, with 577 accidents, was in second place, followed by Manipur (398). The number of accidents has increased in 2023 over 2022 in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura. “In all other North Eastern states, there was a decrease in accidents in 2023 as compared to 2022,” the report says.
Road crashes in the country claimed approximately 1.73 lakh lives and resulted in injuries to 4.63 lakh people in 2023. Road accidents being the result of the interplay of multiple factors, multipronged measures are needed to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities.
Meghalaya government has taken a number of steps to enhance road safety, including stern advisory by Shillong Traffic Police (STP) to wear helmets by children riding pillion or standing in front on two-wheelers.
According to the advisory, many parents and guardians wear helmets themselves but fail to provide similar head protection for children, exposing them to significant risks of injury or fatality in case of accidents.
The advisory, issued on March 20, 2025, warns that non-compliance will result in penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The STP has called upon parents and guardians to take this responsibility seriously, urging everyone to work together to protect young lives and make Shillong’s roads safer for all and create a safer future for children on the roads of Shillong.
East Khasi Hills District police have also introduced seven dedicated branch-wise traffic control helpline numbers to enhance traffic management and response to traffic-related issues in Shillong.
The helpline numbers are designed to facilitate quick reporting of traffic jams or obstruction, vehicular breakdowns, accidents, unsafe road conditions and other emergencies.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has addressed the rising concerns over frequent accidents in West Garo Hills district, particularly involving the regular movement of dumpers associated with ongoing construction activities.
Sangma emphasised the need for immediate action by instructing the DC of West Garo Hills to organise an awareness campaign on road safety involving various stakeholders. The initiative aims to mitigate the growing number of accidents attributed to construction-related traffic in the region.
Throughout the country, a total number of 4,80,583 road accidents have been reported by States and Union Territories (UTs) during the calendar year 2023, claiming 1,72,890 lives and causing injuries to 4,62,825 persons. The number of road accidents in 2023 increased by 4.2% compared to the previous year, 2022.
Among the States, Tamil Nadu with 67,213 accidents (14%) recorded the highest number of road accidents in 2023, followed by Madhya Pradesh (55,327, i.e., 11.5%). Uttar Pradesh (23,652, i.e., 13.7%) topped the States in respect of the number of fatalities due to road accidents, followed by Tamil Nadu (18,347, i.e.,10.6%).
