A total of five persons died and five others were injured seriously in two separate road accidents in Dehradun on Sunday/Monday night. Four persons died and five others were injured when the car they were in had a head-on collision with a truck coming from the opposite direction on the Rishikesh-Haridwar highway near Nepali Farm at Raiwala in Dehradun on Sunday night while one person died in a road accident in Bhaniyawala, Doiwala.
Raiwala police were informed of the accident that occurred at Raiwala at around 1.30 am on Monday after which they reached the spot. Four persons were found lying dead alongside the road while five were found injured, crying for help. Police transported the injured to a local hospital.
The truck driver who managed to escape after the accident was yet to be arrested. However, police seized the truck.
The deceased have been identified as Mohan Kumar, resident of THDC Colony, Rishikesh; Manmohan Singh, resident of Almora; Mukesh, resident of Pithrogarh and Vikram Negi, resident of Tharali Chamoli. Police said that a case under appropriate sections of IPC has been registered against some unidentified persons and a team has been formed to investigate the accident.
In the other accident that occurred at Bhaniyawala, Doiwala, a Public Works Department employee living in Doiwala, Devraj Singh, aged 52, who was injured in a traffic accident succumbed later. The mishap occurred after the two- wheeler he was riding rammed into a pole near Bhaniyawala flyover on Sunday night. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died.
Critics slam the police for accidents continuing despite a week-long road safety campaign conducted recently at the behest of the state police. On the other hand, observers also point out that the public too does not appear to have comprehended the seriousness of observing various necessary regulations and precautions regarding safety on the road.