Keonjhar: The district administration will provide Rs 2,000 to any person extending immediate help in shifting a road accident victim to hospital in a bid to curb the rising number of casualties.

While the district had accounted for 312 fatalities in road accidents in 2017, 170 lives were already lost so far between January and June this year.

"This scheme has been launched in Keonjhar to encourage people in shifting road accident victims immediately to hospital. It will go a long way in saving human lives lost because of delayed hospitalisation. Litigation and police questioning often deterred the people to come to the aid of the distressed accident victims," said police superintendent Jay Narayan Pankaj.

"The scheme helps in reducing the time for an accident victim to reach hospital. People are hesitant to help, mainly because they are scared of police investigation. Large numbers of people are imbibed with the mindset to come to the rescue of such victims. It has often been found in the past that bystanders prefer to stay away from doing the life-saving act for fear of legal hassles. We are hopeful that many will now come forward to don the mantle of Good Samaritan," he said.

The rate of road accidents and fatalities is going up alarmingly. Both the state and national highways passing through Keonjhar district have turned into death traps for motorists and pedestrians.

Road safety campaigners attributed the non-installation of traffic signals, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving, driving under alcoholic influence, unauthorised roadside parking for the spurt in road accidents.

The police have intensified drive in keeping tabs on reckless driving and penalising bikers without helmet.