Thread by @p1j

"India see almost equal number of casualties caused by Road Accidents, as much as Deaths caused by #coronavirus every year" #RoadSafety

Aah! I hate such Cliched comparisons yet cant avoid it to start an Important thread to have attention of @MORTHIndia @RajCMO @NHAI_Official 1/n

Highway journeys are integral part of my life with some unforgettable memories of travelling with my father since early yrs & exploring nature, as well as places, food & ethnic culture of specially d rural parts of India & Rajasthan.

On a #Highway, Life is always a #PatakhaGuddi

Last week, travelled thru NH552 in Rajasthan & it was good to be on a road journey after a long time & happy to see the Highways busy again.

Team @NHAI_Official has done brilliant work in the construction of Highways in ensuring excellent spine to India's infrastructure. Yet..

Yet there is a problem on few of the Highways. A Major problem with a severe impact. Am talking of these highways being used by Stray & Pet cattle groups as if they own these roads, causing severe concerns for #RoadSafety & also creating a negative impact on Resource Utilization

I have full empathy with Stray & Pet animals but this is not a place to be for them. Not on the Spine of National Infrastructure, with so much of Traffic going around & with severe implications both for Animals as well as Human Lives. This is Serious Problem that needs a solution

Even more disturbing is to have their presence on Elevated Roads & Flyovers not only crossing but sitting & walking on middle of the road. While the implications are major & severe in the cost of Human & Cattle Lives, I think there could be an easy solution with better vigilance

I am not sure how @NHAI_Official & @MORTHIndia can afford to miss these cattle groups on the roads & ignore the risk specially by their vigil Highway Patrolling units.

This is concerning not for the deaths by Accidents but also loss of revenue & productivity by causing delays

Have written this thread sitting outside the Orthopedic Operation Theater of Durlabhji Hospital in #Jaipur - I am sure with better vigilance and patrolling we can avoid a lot of accidents on the Highways. Its not that difficult #RoadSafety

@MORTHIndia @NHAI_Official @UNRCPD

For that matter, met a major accident on NH552 last Friday, in an effort to save a cow/bull walking on d middle of the road on FLYOVER, towards my car.

While I could save the cattle, my car crashed into side wall of Flyover. Thankfully Ertiga proved to be a safe bet & took d hit

It was a major blow but thankfully, I came out with minimal impact, while my wife & son got fractures. The son was implanted with the plate yday while wife had her wrist fractured and was fixed by some wiring procedure. All OK, No Worries, but Worries continue for the #Highways

If this is not enough, I got to know yday that, we had THREE Accidents of same nature in the same belt last month in an effort to save Cattle sitting/walking on the Highway Roads (@JHAADITYA16 had one). I am sure there are more accidents being caused for these Stray & Pet Cattles

This certainly is a Severe Problem, but can surely be handled with better management, proper patrolling & vigilance & some simple governance @NHAI_Official @MORTHIndia @PoliceRajasthan

That's the way, HIGHWAY- Happy Journeys #over

@yv_post @avinashkalla @8PMnoCM @NagarAdditi

जो गुज़र गई, कल की बात थी
उम्र तो नहीं एक रात थी

and to set the context - This is the video I received in the Hospital in the morning and hence shared

- Music is the best healer.

दिन ढले जहां रात पास हो
ज़िन्दगी की लौ ऊंची कर चलो #Gulzar #Pancham

https://twitter.com/p1j/status/1450668378931150858