Sonepur: The district transport department has identified 10 places accident-prone areas and suggested measures to prevent mishaps and save life and property.
The 10 identified black spots are Sialjuri village on the NH-57, Palas Chowk, Mahanadi bridge, Sandhapali, Kumarkeli, Kunja Hotel, Block Chowk, Budharaja Chowk, Ghatkaintara and Bankapali.
Sonepur's motor vehicle inspector Robin Pattnaik said he informed the district road safety committee about the identified spots on Wednesday.
Sonepur collector Dasarathi Satapathy said they would take care to construct speed breakers and install information boards to prevent accidents at these spots.
"The National Highways Authority of India and the public works department must take immediate steps to construct speed breakers and install information boards at these spots within a week," he said.
He also laid emphasis on awareness on part of students, especially of roadside schools on road safety and traffic rules. The transport officials also informed the committee that the department had registered 77 cases of rash driving, 14 for drunk driving, 23 cases of using mobile phones while driving, 836 cases of not using helmets and nine overloading cases between January and March.
The committee stated that it had noticed many youths, who are not adults, were riding motorcycles. The district collector said such violations would not be tolerated and action would be taken against those found guilty.
"Many youths who have not attained 18 years of age ride motorcycles without licence. We will intensify checking of these vehicles in the days to come to curb this menace," he said.
The collector also emphasised on the no helmet-no petrol norm that has been implemented in the district since February 1. "All the 19 petrol pumps have been asked to comply with the instruction. They should co-operate with the district administration," Satapathy said.
Snake bite death
A 52-year-old woman from Balsakhumpa village in Khajuripada police limits in Kandhamal district died of snake bite on Saturday, said police.
The venomous snake bit Sukanti Behera while she was collecting fodder.
She died on the way to hospital, police said.
