The gory road accident which claimed the lives of four Spanish nationals and left nine others injured on August 5, 2017, at a hairpin bend near Punganur on August 5, 2017, was considered an ‘eye-opener’ for the Chittoor district administration, forcing it to take urgent steps to address the rising number of road accidents.
However, despite many corrective measures being initiated in subsequent years, the scenario continues to remain disturbing. In the last three years, the six National Highways and one State Highway passing through the district have witnessed 264 accidents, in which 135 people lost their lives and an equal number of people suffered injuries.
There are a total of 31 black spots along the highways, of which two are considered extremely dangerous. At the Cheelapalle Cross on the NH connecting Chittoor and Vellore, 21 casualties were reported in as many accidents. Due to the ongoing road construction and absence of illumination and signboards, the 1-km stretch on this busy road continues to remain a source of worry for the police.
