State police headquarters on Thursday in a press release claimed that proactive steps by the department had helped to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal road accidents in Tamil Nadu during Pongal holidays compared to last year. The release however failed to give details of fatalities during the four festival days.

Chennai:

The number of cases registered for traffic violations have jumped to 265 per cent on Bogi day, 192 per cent on Pongal day, 220 per cent on Tiruvalluvar day and 182 per cent on Uzhvar day during this year when compared to the year 2017. Number of cases registered for not wearing helmet and seatbelt has also gone up in all the four days. 

Director General of Police TK Rajendran praised efforts of the police personnel to reduce the accidents. Moreover, the state police chief instructed the respective police officers to coordinate with the ‘108’ ambulance services. 

As per the police statistics, the number of ‘108’ ambulance calls in connection with road accidents had come down drastically this year during the Pongal festival season. 

In Chennai city, the number of road accidents has reduced by 37 cases while in Kancheepuram it is 53 cases. Tiruvannamalai and Tirunelveli have reduced 42 cases each, Madurai (40), Dindigul (32), Virudhu Nagar (29), Tuticorin (27) and  Villupuram (33).