1403 people die on National Highway-719:Despite 7 years, the 80 km stretch remains unsafe, with nearly every half kilometre a black spot

Anil Baghel, a resident of Dikhtanpura village in Bhind district, who used to support his family by driving an auto in Surat city, Gujarat, had returned to his village with his wife and son about a year ago. He covered a journey of about one thousand kilometers by driving the auto himself. After a journey of approximately two days, the family safely reached the village. A few days passed peacefully and comfortably in the village, but no one knew that this journey would prove to be the last peace of his life. On the evening of December 17, 2024, around four o’clock, Anil’s two-and-a-half-year-old son Ganesh suddenly fell ill. Anil and his wife Aarti, panicked, took the child to the district hospital. After treatment, around 10 PM, doctors reported an improvement in the child’s condition. It was late at night, so Anil decided to return to the village at that very moment. Anil, along with his wife and son, proceeded on Gwalior-Etawah National Highway-719 by auto. In the Barohi police station area, a speeding dumper coming from behind hit the auto forcefully. The collision was so severe that Anil, his wife Aarti, and innocent Ganesh died on the spot. Due to such accidents occurring frequently on Gwalior-Bhind-Etawah National Highway-719, the people of Bhind are now calling it the path of death. When the Dainik Bhaskar team investigated the data of accidents and deaths on this highway, a very shocking picture emerged. Read the full report… First, see…three pictures of accidents on Gwalior-Etawah National Highway-719 More than 1400 lives lost in 7 years
Approximately 1400 lives have been lost on this highway, which falls within the borders of Bhind district, in seven years. During this period, more than four thousand road accidents occurred, while 5156 people were injured. The total length of this highway from Gwalior to Etawah is 110 kilometers, of which approximately 80 kilometers falls within Bhind district. The alarming fact is that within this 80 km stretch, 1403 deaths have been recorded within seven years. Looking at the figures, every half-kilometer stretch has become a potential black spot. Despite this, instead of improving the situation at the ground level, government claims of reducing black spots have been questioned. People allege that the real situation is being hidden, while the entire highway is continuously turning into a danger zone. Claims of reducing black spots, but accidents continuously increasing
The government has been claiming that 16 black spots on NH-719 have been improved in three years. Now only six black spots remain, but the ground reality is different from these claims. Statistics show that the graph of accidents and deaths on this highway is increasing every year. In fact, the Gwalior-Bhind-Etawah National Highway-719 has technically completely failed. According to officials, about 20,000 vehicles pass through this route daily, whereas according to National Highway Authority standards, if more than 10 to 12 thousand vehicles start plying on a two-lane highway, it needs to be converted into a four-lane highway. According to the rules, even on a four-lane road, when the number of vehicles exceeds 20,000, a six-lane road is required. Despite this, NH-719 remains a two-lane road even today. During wedding seasons and festive days, the pressure of vehicles increases further, due to which this highway is inviting a new accident every day. Highways become most deadly during weddings and in fog
Accident statistics show that the number of accidents on NH-719 is highest during wedding days. During these days, the pressure of vehicles on the highway suddenly increases, which many times over increases the possibility of collisions and fatal accidents. In the winter season, fog makes the situation even more dangerous. Amidst low visibility, high-speed vehicles race on the highway, due to which drivers are unable to accurately judge oncoming vehicles or road conditions. This is why on foggy days, the death toll on this highway rapidly increases. Local people say that during the wedding season and fog, this highway completely turns into a danger zone, but despite this, safety arrangements remain inadequate. Agitation continues for three years, but the road condition remains the same
The demand to make NH-719 a six-lane road has been continuously rising for three years. This agitation was started by ex-servicemen of the district, after which the saint community and social workers also joined it. Now this agitation has become one of Madhya Pradesh’s most pressing road problems. A foot march was organized by the saint community from Chambal Bridge to Rani Lakshmi Bai’s memorial in Gwalior. Additionally, a 10-day protest and hunger strike were also held in Bhind. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia was met regarding the demand for a six-lane road, and the demand was also conveyed to Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi. In July, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had assured that this highway would be made four-lane by the year 2028, but even after seven months, work has not started at the ground level. Following this, on December 29, the saint community agitated again, making the toll free for two hours under the theme ‘No Road-No Toll’. After the agitation, assurances were once again given regarding preparing the DPR and land acquisition, but the condition of the road has not changed yet. Families devastated on the highway: Some tragic accidents December 17, 2024: Death of husband, wife, and son
Anil Baghel, a resident of Dikhtanpura, Bhind, who drove an auto in Surat, Gujarat, had returned to his village with his wife and two-and-a-half-year-old son. On the night of December 17, a speeding dumper collided with their auto in the Barohi area on NH-719. All three died on the spot in the accident.