The city witnessed the lowest number of fatal accidents this Holi since 2006 as eight people were killed in road mishaps even as the police fined more than 11,000 people and impounded nearly 971 vehicles for violating traffic rules on the occasion.
A total of 11,492 offenders were prosecuted on Friday, which included 1,569 cases of drunken driving, out of which 336 prosecutions were made against registered vehicle owners who allowed their vehicles to be driven by unauthorised persons/drunk drivers.
Delhi Police made elaborate arrangements to ensure a safe Holi. Over 200 special checking teams of Traffic Police along with PCR vans and local police were deployed to check incidents of drunken, speeding and reckless driving. Special teams with alcometers and 20 interceptors were also deployed at major intersections to detect and prosecute violators.
According to Special Commissioner (Traffic) Muktesh Chander, men armed with cameras were also positioned to tape the offenders so that if they cannot be prosecuted on the spot due to rush, challans can be sent home. Police also claimed that an increased vigil on the streets on the festival of colours ensured reduced fatalities on road.
“The presence of policemen at strategic locations and strict traffic enforcement also resulted in the lowest fatal accidents in the city on the day of Holi till date, as only eight fatal accidents were reported from all over the city in which eight people lost their lives,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Shukla.
This was against 11 fatal accidents that took place on the day of Holi in the year 2014, 14 fatal accidents in 2013, 13 fatal accidents in 2012, 11 fatal accidents in 2011 and total 15 fatal accidents in the year 2010. The highest number of casualties on Holi was in the year 2006 with 20 mishaps in which 22 people were killed, he added.
Out of the 1,569 offenders who were prosecuted for drunken driving, seven were HTV drivers, 33 MGV/lGV drivers, 213 car/Jeep drivers, 909 two-wheeler riders, 36 TSR drivers, five delivery van drivers and 35 were other vehicle drivers. A total of 923 vehicles were impounded during the drive. In addition, 787 persons were prosecuted for jumping the red light, 249 for wrong/improper parking, 192 for dangerous driving, 898 for overspeeding, 787 for triple riding, 954 for rider/pillion without helmet, 41 for not using seatbelt, and 41 for not having valid driving licence.
Delhi Police data shows that last year on Holi, 13,015 prosecutions were made out of which 5,633 were for riding without helmet, 1,544 for jumping red light, 1,464 for triple riding, 139 for dangerous driving and 2,090 drivers were prosecuted for drunken driving. In addition, 881 vehicles were also impounded during the special drive.
About 200 teams of traffic police officials were stationed at different locations in the city to take action against drunken driving, over speeding, reckless driving, zig-zag driving, dangerous driving, red light jumping, triple riding, minor driving, driving/riding without helmet, performing stunt wheelies on two-wheelers and other traffic offences.