Shortage of police hits traffic control in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: Preventing road accidents during the Krishna Pushkaram in North Andhra region is a major challenge for the police and Road Transport Authority (RTA) as majority of the cops from North Andhra region have been deployed in Krishna to ensure that the 12-day Pushkaralu goes off without a hitch. Travel agencies in a bid to cash in on the heavy rush have been chalking out plans to run unfit vehicles. Over 20 road-crashes were reported and over 18 people were killed and 20 injured during Godavari Pushkaralu last year in the region due to overcrowding in old vehicles.

Sources said that more than 3,000 cops, including traffic police from Vizag, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam will be on duty for more than two weeks at the Krishna Pushkarams to be held from August 12 to 23 and the remaining cops will have to be on their toes. Regulation of traffic on the NH-16 stretch between Vizag and Srikakulam is a major challenge for the cops during the Pushkarams as lakhs of people in private buses, mini vans, jeeps and other vehicles will travel to and fro from their home town to the Pushkaram.

There are high chances of road accidents during the Pushkarams as the drivers often lose control negotiating sharp turns in overcrowded vehicles besides many drivers are sleep deprived.
A police officer on condition of anonymity said that whenever there is a tragic incident in the state, North Andhra has the maximum of victims. The stampede on the opening day of the Godavari Pushkarams last year which resulted in the death of 29 pilgrims, included 19 from North Andhra, he added.

Traffic police said that they will set up a Pushkar police check post at strategic places on the NH-16 stretch in three districts and some more check posts in Vizag Rural in order to control the traffic. In addition to the check posts, mobile police teams will be deployed round-the-clock to facilitate smooth movement of vehicles and to check over-crowded and unfit vehicles. However, it is very difficult to check the unsuitable vehicles sometimes due to heavy vehicular traffic during the Pushkarams, they added.

Info Graphics:

More than 3,000 cops from North Andhra deployed for Krishna Pushkaram.

Nearly 10 lakh people from North Andhra are expected to attend the Krishna Pushkarams during the 12 day event.

Shortage of police staff leaves North Andhra helpless.