To check road accidents happening in the mountainous parts of the State thick and fast and taking toll of lives, the State police have decided to form Hill Patrol Unit (HPU) on the pattern of City Patrol Unit (CPU) in the mountainous districts of the State. This unit might be launched either from Almora or Pauri district soon, said a senior police officer.
State Additional Director General of police (law and order) Ashok Kumar said that enthused over the success of CPU operating in Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar, Dehradun and Nainital districts in checking road accidents, they have decided to constitute HPU on the pattern of CPU in the hills. “These units would be equipped with two-wheelers, alcometres and fist aids kits among others. They would be deputed to check road accidents. Besides, they would work as a first responders in case of disaster. HPUs would take action against drunk driving and other forms of traffic rule violations which would in turn help check road accidents in the hills.
They would conduct random checking of the vehicles to stop liquor from being smuggled from neighbouring states. They would also help the needy persons on the roads,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, taking cognizance of the road accident that killed 10 persons in Champawat district on Wednesday, police arrested the head of a construction company and JCB operators for keeping machineries and debris right on the roads which made the roads narrower and caused the mishap that killed so many people. SP Champawat D S Gunjyal said that the preliminary investigation into Champawat accident had found that construction debris dumped on the road by the construction agencies was a major cause behind the mishap. The police had registered a case against the construction company, he added.