RANCHI/RAMGARH: Frequent accidents along two arterial roads that pass through Chutupalu and Patratu valleys have become a cause of worry for the government as well as commuters.Over the past two years, at least 50 people have died in more than 40 accidents along the 12-km stretch of National Highway 33 that passes through Chutupalu valley to connect Ranchi with Ramgarh. The frequency of accidents along National Highway 23 in Patratu valley that links the state capital with Ramgarh is also equally high.Union minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha has requested police and the state health department to take steps to reduce the chances of accidents and provide timely medical assistance to possible victims of such mishaps.In a letter, Sinha has asked health minister Ramchadra Chandravanshi to set up a trauma centre at Old Sadar Hospital, located 4km away from NH-33. Similarly, in a separate letter, he has directed the Ramgarh deputy commissioner Rajeshwari B and superintendent of police A Vijayalakshmi to set up a check post in Chutupalu valley to monitor the movement of vehicles. He has suggested that the proposed check point will regulate the speed of vehicles, overloading and drink driving and also examine the licences of drivers."Better coordination needed among administration, police and National Highway Authority of India Limited (NHAI) to make the (Chutupalu) valley safer for commuter which needed to develop a proper checking system in the valley," Sinha has written in his letters to Rajeshwari and Vijayalakshmi.Locals say one of the key reasons of frequent accidents along NH-23 is the emergence of Patratu valley as a major tourist attraction in recent years. "This area has seen a sharp rise in the number of vehicles passing through it," one of them says."What have added more to the problem are rash driving and people's new love for selfies and trucks that run at high speed," adds Rohit Kumar, another local who passes through the valley to reach his shop every day.Rishabh Anand, founder of Rise Up, a Ranchi-based organisation that works for spreading traffic awareness, says, "Many youngsters go to the valley to perform bike and car stunts, most of whom do not even have a driving licence. Police must take steps to stop them from carrying out such risky stunts."Concerned at the frequent accidents along the two highways, the road construction department has asked the NHAI to widen the roads in Chutupalu valley. It also suggested that sharp bends along the highway in Chutupalu valley be "smoothened".

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