Agartala, Nov. 25: Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar today admitted that the rate of road accidents in Tripura was “abnormally high” and said the government was planning a slew of measures to curb the menace.

“After the major accident involving three jeeps at Gokulnagar under Bishalgarh subdivision on November 15, in which 12 people have died so far, I have collected data on road mishaps and fatalities from other states. I am sorry to say the rate of mishaps and casualties is abnormally high in Tripura,” Sarkar said.

He was replying to a call attention motion by the leader of the Opposition Ratanlal Nath on the Gokulnagar accident.

Sarkar said within a day of the accident, the transport department had sent an inquiry team to the spot. The team concluded that the accident had occurred because of reckless driving and suggested a series of measures.

“On November 19, DGP Pranay Sahay held a meeting at the police headquarters with representatives of motor workers unions and traffic personnel and finalised a nine-point action plan to curb road mishaps,” the chief minister said.

The transport department is procuring sophisticated equipment to impose speed limit on vehicles on national highways and other important roads, he added.

Quoting statistical data, he said 779 people have been killed in 2,842 road accidents during the past four years till September 30, 2008. “If the latest toll is added, the figure has already crossed the 800 mark.”

Nath sought an assurance from the chief minister on the amendment.

Sarkar detailed the measures already initiated by the government and assured the House that he would ask the law department to examine the feasibility of amending the relevant sections of the IPC to create stringent deterrents against reckless driving.

“We know that most of the accidents occur because of rough and reckless driving of vehicles and we welcome the suggestions put forward by the Opposition. Affirmative action will follow,” he added.