Srinagar: Statistics presented by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari revealed shocking details about the number of deaths caused by road accidents across India. Responding to a question from the opposition, Gadkari disclosed that 26,770 people have died on national highways between January and June this year, the Hindustan Times reported, citing data from the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) portal.
National highways continue to claim more than 50,000 lives annually. In 2024, national highways recorded 52,609 fatalities, marginally down from 53,372 deaths in 2023.
With 26770 lives already lost in the first half of 2025, the counting is expected to go past 50k by the end of this year. Based on the statistics, 147 people are lost to the road accidents daily on average in the first half of 2025.
This raises questions and concerns about the safety measures in place, despite the government schemes and initiatives available. The numbers are expected to rise as states and UTs continue updating the eDHAR system.
National highways account for 36% of all road crash fatalities in India, making them a critical focus for safety interventions. The last comprehensive “road accidents in India” report, published for 2022, showed that of 155,781 fatal accidents that year, 55,571 (35.7%) occurred on national highways, 37,861 (24.3%) on state highways, and 62,349 (40%) on other roads.
Responding to BJD MP Sasmit Patra’s question on accident prevention measures, Gadkari said that the government’s approach is focused on eliminating black spots and deploying advanced surveillance systems, the Hindustan Times reported.
Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) have been installed on high-density corridors including the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Trans-Haryana route, Eastern Peripheral Expressway, and Delhi Mumbai Expressway.
Addressing concerns about monsoon-related landslide risks, Gadkari told BJP MP Sikander Kumar from Himachal Pradesh that the government was working with states to identify unstable hill slopes and develop evacuation protocols.
