Nandyal administration offers Rs. 5,000 reward for saving road accident victims

KURNOOL: Nandyal district administration has said people who help rush road accident victims quickly to the hospital, thereby saving lives, will be rewarded Rs. 5,000.

District collector Dr. Manazir Jeelani Samoon has asked administrative authorities to publicize this Good Samaritan Award, so that people are incentivised into helping fellow road users.

District superintendent of police K. Raghuveer Reddy has assured support for Good Samaritans who come forward to assist severely injured individuals in accidents.

Nandyal Road Transport Officer Siva Reddy said from January to April 2023, there have been 192 road accidents, resulting in 104 fatalities and 230 minor injuries. He said immediate support to the injured before rescue teams arrive is important towards saving the lives of those involved in accidents.

In 2021, Central Ministry of Road Transport and Highways announced the scheme providing a reward of Rs. 5,000 to individuals who offer aid to accident victims. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide emergency assistance to traffic accident victims. The reward can be claimed up to five times per year, along with a certificate of appreciation.

The scheme will be in effect until March 2026. As per the guidelines, if multiple Good Samaritans save the lives of multiple victims, the award amount will be Rs. 5,000 per victim saved, with a maximum of Rs. 5,000 per Good Samaritan.

Within the city limits, there are 25 identified black spots, where accidents have been on the rise. These include R&B Guest House, Flyover Bridge, Coal Lane Road, Goods Shed, and Collectorate. To address this issue comprehensively, municipal, roads and buildings, police, and transport officials are conducting joint inspections at these locations to initiate measures that can help avoid accidents.

Additionally, Roads and Buildings department is planning to install speed breakers, apart from placing warning signs at dangerous spots. Across the district, authorities have identified 29 black spots, including areas such as Dhone, Nandyal, Chagalamarri, Owk, and Jupadu Bungalow.

In this regard, collector Manazir has instructed officials to prepare proposals for a six-lane road from Pullur to Bengaluru on National Highway 44.

SP Raghuveer directed officials to conduct joint inspections of national and state highways in the district to prevent accidents.