Road pothole fatalities surge 53 per cent nationally: Uttar Pradesh leads alarming trend

New Delhi: Deaths caused by pothole-related road accidents in India have risen 53 per cent over the past five years, with 9,438 fatalities recorded between 2020 and 2024, the Centre informed Parliament.

In a written reply in the Parliament of India, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said pothole-related road accident deaths peaked at 2,385 in 2024. While fatalities dipped marginally in 2021, they have increased steadily since.

The annual death toll fell from 1,555 in 2020 to 1,481 in 2021. It then rose to 1,856 in 2022, 2,161 in 2023 and reached 2,385 in 2024, according to official road safety data.

Uttar Pradesh emerged as the worst-affected state, accounting for more than 54 per cent of total pothole-related fatalities. The state reported 5,127 deaths between 2020 and 2024. In 2024 alone, Uttar Pradesh recorded 1,369 deaths, up from 1,320 in 2023 and 1,030 in 2022.

Madhya Pradesh reported 969 deaths over five years, including 277 in 2024. Tamil Nadu recorded 612 fatalities during the same period, while Punjab reported 414 deaths linked to pothole-related road accidents.

The data, compiled from state police reports submitted to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, showed that Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Goa reported no pothole-related accidents or fatalities during the five-year period.

Nationwide, 23,056 pothole-related road accidents were reported between 2020 and 2024, leading to 19,956 injuries. Of these, 9,670 were classified as grievous injuries, highlighting ongoing road safety concerns.

Gadkari said the Centre is responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways, while state governments are responsible for roads within their jurisdiction. He added that the government has prioritised maintenance of the National Highways network and set up accountability mechanisms to ensure timely repairs and improved road safety standards.

PTI