Patna: It takes a God to instil traffic discipline among people in the state capital.

The transport department has taken several measures to raise awareness about the benefits of wearing helmets but many people do not follow rules.

Now the department has hired theatre artistes dressed up as the god of death who are catching people not wearing helmets and penalising them.

Yamraj was seen at a few roundabouts in Patna, including Dakbungalow and Boring Road. They also caught people who had helmets with them but were not wearing it.

" Mil gaya murga, aao tumahara hi intezaar tha, agar helmet pehne rehte toh humse mulakat na hoti (I found you, I was waiting for you only, if you would have been wearing the helmet, you would not have met me)," Yamraj said in a heavy voice near Dakbungalow roundabout.

The person riding the bike without a helmet was stunned for some time and could not understand. However, when the enforcement officers and traffic police came in, he understood.

The entire practice was being monitored by transport secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal who was taking reports from every district.

"From today we have launched a weeklong special drive across the state against those not wearing helmets. This time, we have taken the help of theatre artistes who have dressed up like Yamraj. Though the continuous drive has made people aware about the importance of helmets, still there are some people not following the rules so we have taken this initiative," Agarwal said.

On Raksha Bandhan last month, the transport department had chosen a similar way to raise awareness about the use of helmets when school-going girls were seen tying rakhis to traffic violators.

Today's drive was more sharp because the traffic police also focused on penalising pillion riders as well who are usually seen not wearing helmets. On the first day, 4,300 people were fined and a penalty of Rs 7.5 lakh was collected through the drive.

On other hand, Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj conducted the monthly review meeting of traffic management at Gandhi Maidan in which traffic SP P.N. Mishra was also present.

All the sectors in-charge of traffic were present at the briefing in which Maharaaj asked the traffic in-charge to ensure smooth traffic in the state capital.

He also asked the police to behave nicely with the people violating traffic rules and make them aware of norms apart from taking fines.