Hyderabad: Pedestrians, cyclists most unsafe on road

Hyderabad: “I had come to Begumpet to meet a relative. When I was crossing the road in front of the Lifestyle building, a two- wheeler came from the wrong side (Panjagutta side) and hit me,” said 19- year-old Sunil Yadav who is recovering from his injuries.  

Seventy-year-old Yousuf Bee while returning home on foot after voting at the M.S. Maqtha Community Hall, was hit by a car and died while undergoing treatment. Since 2016, around 100 pedestrians have died in Hyderabad every year due to accidents like the above. 

According to the WHO’s Global status report on road, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are the most vulnerable road users. They represent more than half of all global accident deaths. Pedestrians and cyclists represent 26 per cent of all road fatalities.

In 2018, in Hyderabad alone 298 people died in road accidents of which nearly half were pedestrians. Most of the pedestrian deaths were caused by two-wheelers followed by RTC buses.

Sunil Yadav, the 19-year-old teenager who was hit by a two-wheeler in Begumpet had migrated to the city in search of work and was a chef in a restaurant. Hit by the two-wheeler coming from the wrong side of the road, he was bleeding and became unconscious. 

“I received injuries on the right cheek and sustained a fracture in my left shoulder. I am taking rest at home. I spent nearly '50,000 on medical expenses. I am not going to work and so I can’t send money to my parents who live in Uttar Pradesh,” Sunil says.

Abubakar lost his grandmother Yousuf Bee in a road accident. She was hit from the back by a rashly driven car and received severe injuries on her head, chest, and hands. 

“My aunt was also injured in the same accident,” Abubakar said.

Additional commissioner of police (traffic) Anil Kumar claims there is a decrease in the number of pedestrian deaths this year compared to last year. 

“In 2017, there were around 133 deaths and this year there have been 123 deaths. We have installed six pelican pedestrian signals, pedestrian platforms with bollards at junctions and other pedestrian movement zones. We have conducted special drives to remove encroachments from footpaths, develop footpaths with rail guards, installed a foot over bridge at MJ College of Engineering and at Mahaveer Hospital, Masab Tank, for road crossing. All this was taken up in 15 important areas of Hyderabad city. We have also installed signage. Due to all this the deaths have reduced by eight per cent compared to last year,” Mr Kumar said.