Jajpur: The district administration has made it mandatory for two-wheeler riders to wear helmet. District collector Ranjan Kumar Das announced this decision on Sunday.

The move comes in the wake of a number of road accidents in the district.

"Jajpur district ranks top in the list of districts that are witnessing a rise in the number of road accidents in the state. To ensure road safety, we have asked the police to take up the 'no helmet, no petrol' initiative as a public movement and ensure its implementation in all petrol outlets across the district," said Das. Motorcyclists not wearing helmets will be denied petrol in all fuel bunks across the district from February 15, he said, adding that road safety rules must be implemented strictly to reduce the number of road accidents.

"Orders have been issued to all petrol filling stations across the district not to fill petrol if the bike rider does not wear a helmet," he said.

The collector said police had been directed to take up the "no helmet, no fuel" policy to ensure its implementation in petrol filling stations across the district.