March 9: Road accidents over two festive days marred the Holi spirit with Kamrup district topping the list of mishaps in the state.

Brawls were also reported from across the district.

According to statistics provided by the GVK EMRI 108 Ambulance service, while a total of 98 cases of vehicular accidents were recorded across the state on the first day of Holi, 34 incidents happened in Kamrup district alone.

Of these 34 cases, 25 were related to two-wheelers, 4 to three-wheelers and 5 to pedestrians who were hit by vehicles. Till this evening, the ambulance service received 92 cases of road accidents across the state, most of which came from Kamrup though the exact figure is unavailable.

Kamrup district also recorded a total of 9 cases of assaults yesterday, while the total figure across the state stood at 41. Today’s figures were not available.

The actual number of road mishaps and assaults will be more as many cases go unreported, sources said.

“Like every year, trauma cases have gone up during Holi this year too. Our paramedics have rescued and transported a number of victims of vehicular accidents as well as assaults from across Kamrup district. The victims suffered both major and minor injuries of varied nature and degree. All of them were taken to the nearest hospital after being rescued,” said Chandan Datta, chief operating officer of GVK EMRI 108 Ambulance service, Assam.

Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) received more than 50 cases of trauma on the two days of the festival.

“Among the various cases that we treated, two or three patients had head injuries suffered during road accidents and the rest abrasions. The victims with head injuries are undergoing treatment in the hospital and those with minor injuries were discharged after administering first aid,” said a doctor on duty in the emergency department of GMCH.

Police believe drink driving to be the cause leading to majority of these road accidents. Moreover, there is no provision for arresting a driver under the influence of alcohol under the Motor Vehicles Act which makes it doubly difficult for the cops to maintain order.

“Maximum accidents recorded during Holi have been triggered by rash driving in an inebriated state. Traffic police have been carrying out random checks in various parts of the district and fining those found driving after the influence of alcohol. These cases are then referred to the lower court. The police have also stepped up vigil to prevent drunken brawls,” said Bibekananda Das, superintendent of police, traffic (city).