Jamshedpur sees dip in road accidents; 28 mishaps claim 19 lives in May

Jamshedpur: Road accidents and fatalities declined across the city and other parts of the East Singhbhum district in May 2026, prompting the district administration to intensify its efforts toward creating safer roads and improving traffic management across the district.

Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Ranjan reviewed road safety in the district during a joint meeting of the District Road Safety Committee and Traffic Management Committee at the Collectorate conference hall. Senior Superintendent of Police Piyush Pandey, the District Transport Officer, and representatives from NHAI, JUSCO, transport associations, and school vehicle groups attended the session.

Accident Numbers Drop

Review data showed that the district recorded 28 road accidents in May 2026, which resulted in 19 fatalities and 15 injuries. Officials noted that both accidents and deaths dropped compared to April figures.

To sustain this downward trend, Ranjan ordered the District Transport Officer to analyze accident data from the past six months. The administration will use these findings to pinpoint major causes and implement targeted preventive measures.

Enforcement Drives Rake in ₹23.44 Lakh in Fines

Strict traffic enforcement throughout May generated ₹23.44 lakh in fines. The Deputy Commissioner ordered officials to maintain aggressive drives against critical violations, including:

• Overspeeding and drunk driving
• Riding without helmets
• Driving without seatbelts

Authorities also revealed that serious traffic violations have led to the suspension of 512 driving licences so far. Meanwhile, the district issued 2,805 learner’s licences and 1,704 permanent driving licences in May, prompting Ranjan to call for enhanced safety orientation for new drivers.

Crackdown on School Vehicles and Illegal Parking

The administration is turning its focus toward student safety and highway bottlenecks through two major directives:

• School Vehicle Deadline: Ranjan gave the School Vehicle Association a one-week deadline to update all vehicle fitness certificates and permits. The District Transport Office and local police will launch joint inspections to verify compliance.
• National Highway Cleardown: The Deputy Commissioner ordered a joint police drive to clear illegal roadside parking between Dimna Chowk and Bhilai Pahadi, which severely congests traffic and raises accident risks.

Additionally, NHAI representatives reported that workers have completed streetlight repairs in the Galudih, Phulpal, and Ghatshila areas. The agency promised to wrap up remaining highway infrastructure improvements within the next 10 to 15 days.