Bhubaneswar: Road accidents resulted in the death of 2,530 people in Odisha during Jan-April 2026, marking a 9.4% increase from 2,312 fatalities reported during the same period in 2025, according to the state police statistics. The number of accidents during the period also rose by 3.6% — from 4,505 to 4,667.Of the state’s 30 districts, only eight — Bhadrak, Boudh, Deogarh, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Puri and Sundargarh — registered a simultaneous decline in both accidents and fatalities.Several districts, however, reported increases in both categories, while a few saw fewer accidents but higher death tolls. Rayagada recorded the steepest surge in fatalities at 42% (from 50 to 71), followed by Balasore at 38.4% (from 78 to 108).Transport officials said the reasons behind the spike are being examined. “Road safety remains a priority for the govt, but safe driving is ultimately the responsibility of motorists. In many cases, excess speed, and rash, negligent and drunk driving have led to fatalities. Road safety is a shared responsibility. Govt measures can only succeed if drivers adhere to traffic norms,” a senior transport official said.Officials from the transport department and Odisha police said they would assess whether lapses in enforcement contributed to the rise. “We will also examine if poor road conditions and faulty engineering played a role,” another official said. The increase was also partly linked to a rise in vehicle registrations.Meanwhile, officials credited the decline in deaths in eight districts to stricter enforcement and awareness campaigns. “Stringent drives helped reduce accidents and fatalities. Collectors and superintendents of police are being regularly instructed to prepare road safety plans,” the official said.Road safety expert Prasanna Hota, however, criticised the transport department. “Despite reforms, enforcement drives and awareness campaigns, fatalities continue to rise. Even an MoU signed with IIT Madras in Dec 2024 has yet to yield tangible results,” he said.Also, Odisha’s accident severity — measured by deaths per 100 accidents — remained alarmingly above the national average, according to a recent report by the ministry of road transport and highways. The state’s severity index rose from 47.9 in 2023 to 49.6 in 2024, far exceeding the national average of 36.3. In 2022, Odisha’s accident severity figure stood at 46.9.
