One in three hit-and-run accidents in A’bad fatal

Ahmedabad: At least one in every three hit-and-run accidents in Ahmedabad city turns out to be fatal, according to data tabled in the state assembly on Thursday. In the past two years (2023 and 2024), the city reported a total of 344 hit-and-run cases in which 117 people died. However, the number of such accidents and fatalities were higher in Ahmedabad rural — 395 accidents and 228 fatalities, accounting for 57% of fatalities during the period.
The data was tabled in the state assembly on Thursday in response to a question from Imran Khedawala, Congress MLA from Jamalpur-Khadia. The govt stated that the accidents registered a decline in 2024 compared to 2023.
Ahmedabad city recorded 161 hit-and-run accidents in 2024, 12% fewer than 183 in 2023. Similarly, 50 fatalities were recorded in 2024, against 67 in 2023 — marking a 25.4% decline.
While the number of hit-and-run cases dropped in rural Ahmedabad in 2024, compared to the previous year, the fatalities recorded were the same for both years, at 114. In all, 256 accused people are absconding in cases registered in Ahmedabad city and 152 in Ahmedabad rural.
Traffic officials said that most hit-and-run accidents occur at night and in areas without CCTV cameras.
"In 10 to 15% of the cases, the drivers who flee after the accident fearing attacks by people, turn up at the police station," an official said. The officials mentioned that unless police get the details of the vehicle involved, it is difficult to arrest the accused. They said high-resolution cameras are needed on the highways to nab offenders.
Amit Khatri, a traffic expert, said, "The city's road engineering is pathetic. With increasing traffic, even accidents are on the rise. According to police data, the western part of the city recorded 17% more cases than the eastern part."
Fatalities recorded in rural Ahmedabad were higher due to two reasons — first, the speed was greater than on city roads because of highways and there was a delay in medical assistance and rescue reaching the victims.
Moreover, the injuries were serious because of the speed. Khatri said that wrong-side driving, rash driving and even riding triple were common due to the unavailability of transport.