Supreme Court seeks reports on Telangana, Rajasthan highway accidents that killed 40
The apex court took strong note of the November 3 accident on the Telangana–Bijapur highway, in which at least 20 people were killed when a private bus collided head-on with a lorry.
By - Newsmeter Network
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought detailed reports from the governments of Telangana and Rajasthan, along with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, over two major highway accidents that claimed nearly 40 lives last week.
A Bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi, hearing the suo motu case titled ‘In Re: Phalodi Accident’, directed the authorities to conduct a comprehensive survey of both highways where the incidents occurred and to submit their findings within two weeks.
Telangana–Bijapur highway crash under SC lens
The apex court took strong note of the November 3 accident on the Telangana–Bijapur highway, in which at least 20 people were killed when a private bus collided head-on with a lorry.
Reports indicated that poor road design, lack of signage and unregulated roadside activity contributed to the tragedy.
Justice Maheshwari observed that the highway infrastructure and maintenance standards must be scrutinised, especially since tolls are collected from motorists despite visibly damaged or uneven road surfaces.
“The road conditions are not good, though tolls are being charged,” the Bench remarked, stressing that safety measures and proper monitoring of the Telangana stretch were urgently needed.
Illegal dhabas, parked trucks creating hazards
During the hearing, the Bench also raised alarm over unauthorised dhabas operating along highways, stating that they often force truck drivers to park dangerously close to the carriageway, leading to fatal collisions.
“The situation is that dhabas are situated on the bank of the road, which is not notified for such use. People stop their trucks and go to the dhabas, and vehicles coming at speed collide with them. We have to understand how this can be regulated,” Justice Maheshwari observed.
The Supreme Court directed NHAI and the Ministry of Road Transport to list all dhabas located in non-notified zones, assess road surface conditions, and confirm whether private contractors were complying with maintenance obligations.
Rajasthan’s Phalodi accident triggers suo motu action
The case was registered suo motu following the November 2 accident near Phalodi in Rajasthan, where a tempo traveller carrying women and children returning from a pilgrimage rammed into a stationary truck on the Bharatmala stretch, killing at least 18 people.
Media reports on the incident cited poor road illumination and inadequate warning signs as possible causes, which the court said “explicitly indicate systemic lapses.”
Centre, States told to coordinate response
The Bench ordered that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs be impleaded in the case to facilitate inter-agency coordination. It also directed the Chief Secretaries of all states through which the two highways pass to be made parties to the proceedings.
An amicus curiae (friend of the court) was appointed to assist in examining the larger issue of road safety, enforcement, and infrastructure accountability.
