The Supreme Court on Monday directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to submit detailed responses regarding the recent road accident in Rajasthan’s Phalodi area that claimed 15 lives, including those of 10 women and four children.
A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi issued notices to both authorities in a suo motu case initiated by the Court following the November 2 tragedy. The bench sought their replies within two weeks on the causes leading to the fatal collision.
The Court also asked the NHAI and the ministry to conduct a comprehensive survey of the stretch of highway passing through Phalodi and to file a report specifying the number of roadside eateries or dhabas operating along that route.
In addition, the bench directed that a specific report be filed on the condition of the highway and the maintenance norms followed by the road contractor responsible for that section.
The accident occurred near Matoda village on the Bharat Mala Highway when a tempo traveller carrying devotees from Kolayat temple in Bikaner to Jodhpur rammed into a stationary trailer truck, resulting in 15 fatalities. The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the incident to examine larger issues concerning highway safety, maintenance standards, and preventive measures to avert such tragedies in the future.
