Ranchi, June 5: The road rage count is on the rise in and around the capital.

In May, more than 70 people died in road mishaps, while Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences saw about 15 accident cases reaching its emergency ward everyday.

In April, around 55 people died in road mishaps.

On May 2, a speeding truck hit two youths near Bundu. While one of them died on the spot, the other youth succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital. On May 4, three persons died when a truck hit their car at Tamar. May 6 saw two persons die in accidents at Ranchi and Angara.

Then, on May 7, two brothers were killed when a bus hit their motorcycle at Irba. A day later, three persons died when a truck crushed their two-wheeler at Silli. May 11 saw two road deaths at Angara and one at Ratu.

The next four days witnessed at least 12 deaths at Bundu, Tamar, Arki and Jonha. Between May 16 and 20, 10 people died at Karra, Tamar, Burmu and Namkum.

In the next six days, 15 people died in road mishaps on NH 33. Five of a family, including two women and a child, died at Burmu when a truck hit their car.

The month ended in the same fashion. On May 27, there were seven accidents in different parts of the district. The deceased included three children and a woman. Another six persons died in the next two days at Ratu, Nagri and Burmu.

The last two days of the month saw eight people dying in mishaps at Khunti, Mandar, Itki and Khelari. Five among them were women while the others were youths. Speeding trucks were involved in all eight cases.

While most of the victims were youths, there were quite a few women and children as well.

An official of Tamar police station said, ?There is no speed limit at all. The trucks travel at breakneck speed and the drivers do not care about any other vehicle. The situation gets worse at night. It is not possible for us to continuously patrol the area. We have to accept the fact that we fail to arrest them (erring drivers) in most cases.?

The police also pleaded helplessness. ?What can we do? Accidents can happen anywhere and at any moment,? said an officer at Bundu.

Replying to a query on trucks causing highway mishaps, a driver said, ?Have you seen the way two- and four-wheelers ply on the highway? Youths use the relatively empty and smooth stretch of road to show their so-called driving skills. This is one of the biggest causes of accidents on the highway.?