PANAJI
An average of one life is lost every 30 hours and seven accidents are reported daily – this is the grim picture of Goa’s accident scenario.
As World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is observed today, data from the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) indicates that trauma and accident cases account for nearly 25 per cent of its daily emergency caseload, which averages around 170 cases.
While Goa witnessed a 9.75 per cent decline in road accidents up to September this year, the death toll remains unchanged at 219 fatalities compared to the same period last year. This stagnation in improvement has been attributed to a shift in accident patterns with high-speed multi-vehicle collisions on highways becoming increasingly common.
GMC Medical Superintendent Dr Rajesh Patil revealed the alarming ‘steady rise’ in accidents and a shift from villages to highways.
“There is a steady increase in accidents. About 20-25 per cent of total emergencies handled daily constitute trauma/accidents. We are seeing high-velocity, multi-vehicle collisions, particularly on highways and well-maintained roads. The shift in pattern from low-speed crashes in villages to high-speed accidents on major roads has resulted in more casualties and serious injuries,” he said speaking to The Goan.
Head of Forensic Medicine at South Goa District Hospital Dr Madhu Ghodkirekar echoed these concerns while also citing a rise in pedestrian fatalities caused by four-wheelers.
“Helmet-less riding fatalities have decreased but deaths from bulk accidents and collisions involving heavy vehicles are now on the rise. Pedestrian deaths have increased wherein four-wheelers are largely involved. There’s also an increase in serious accidents between four-wheelers and heavy vehicles,” he stated adding that autopsies from road accidents are one of the components contributing to the overall mortality rate.
From January to September 2024, 207 fatal accidents claimed 219 lives, mirroring the statistics from 2023, which saw 203 fatal accidents and the same death toll. Motorcyclists remain the most vulnerable with rider fatalities decreasing slightly from 127 in 2023 to 125 in 2024. However, pillion fatalities have increased from 27 to 31 over the same period.
The medical fraternity has nevertheless emphasized the need for public awareness and life-saving measures with the mission already underway.
“We are emphasizing Compression-Only Life Support (COLS) training for police, students, and the general public,” MS Patil said. He explained that equipping bystanders with basic emergency response skills can save lives and reduce morbidity, which will provide critical time till ambulances arrive.
In addition to this, the health department has deployed two ambulances on the highways in each of the two districts exclusively to handle accident cases.
