Traffic management has emerged as one of the most important challenges before the Police all over the country. There is no denying the fact that the ever growing population with phenomenal growth in the number of vehicles coupled with poor road infrastructure is making the job of traffic management all the more difficult. As per the available figures, one road accident takes place in the country every minute, and one road accident death every four minute.
The analysis of road accidents in terms of causative factors reveals that drivers’ fault is the single most important factor for the road traffic accidents. Drivers’ fault accounted for 78% of total accidents, 74.6% of the total persons killed and 79.8% of the total number of persons injured in road traffic accidents in the year 2010.
In view of this, in July this year, the West Bengal Government introduced ‘Pathbandhu’ app to provide emergency treatment to road accident victims. With this Pathbandhu app, within a moment of any accident, the local police station and ambulance can be duly informed without any delay. The whole initiative also involves bringing local stakeholders in this whole segment. The ultimate target is to provide fast treatment to the road accident victims.
As per direction of Government of West Bengal Department of Health & Family Welfare, a training programme for Pathbandhu — the First Responder Volunteer for Road Traffic Accident was held at Howrah District Hospital. Volunteers from Domjur PS, Sankrile PS and Dhulagarh Traffic Guard under Howrah City Police area attended this training schedule.
