22-year-old woman killed in accident involving speeding bikes near Kochi

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Kochi: Tragedy struck in the early hours of Wednesday when a 22-year-old woman lost her life in a fatal accident involving two speeding bikes near Pulinchode, Aluva. The victim, identified as Liya Jiji, was the daughter of Jiji Sebastian from Melattoor in Thrissur. Two others were injured in the accident.

The incident occurred around 1:30 am when both bikes were traveling in the same direction, towards Aluva from Ernakulam. Liya was riding pillion on the bike driven by Jibin, a resident of Koratty. Both Liya and Jibin were wearing helmets at the time of the accident. It is believed that the second bike collided with their vehicle from behind, causing the accident. The impact caused damage to the right side and fuel tank of the second bike, resulting in fuel leakage.

Authorities from the police and motor vehicle department (MVD) are still investigating the cause of the accident and the speed of the vehicles involved. Upon inspection, MVD officials found that the second bike had sustained significant damage, while the victims’ vehicle only had minor damage. Unfortunately, the cameras in the area were not functioning, making it impossible to determine the exact speed of the bikes, according to officials.

An analysis conducted by Natpac had previously identified various factors contributing to road accidents in Kerala, including traffic, road conditions, human error, vehicle-related issues, environmental factors, and legal aspects such as parking and overtaking regulations.

Based on the nature of the collision, the time of the accident, and the extent of the damage to the vehicles, officials suspect that speeding played a significant role in the tragedy. However, they are still awaiting access to CCTV footage that could provide more information about the movement of the two vehicles.

“There is speculation that one of the bikes was traveling in the wrong direction,” an MVD official said, indicating that the possibility of a wrong-way driver may be a factor in the accident.

Tragically, Liya lost her life at the scene of the accident. The station house officer at Aluva east police station declined to provide further details about the incident.

High-end bikes, known for their ability to reach high speeds quickly, have become increasingly popular in recent years. However, this trend has raised concerns among road safety experts. “Unlike commuter bikes, which were widely used until the ’90s, high-end bikes can attain high speeds in a short time. These speeding bikes often occupy the extreme right lane of the roads instead of the left lane, which is one of the reasons for accidents. Pillion riders are particularly vulnerable to serious injuries due to the elevated seat on these bikes,” explained road safety expert Upendra Narayan.

MVD officials have stated that they will suspend the license of the responsible party once they have identified the culprit.

In other news related to road accidents, Delhi has seen an increase in fatal accidents involving heavy transport vehicles (HTVs). Analysis of road accidents revealed that Outer North and South-East districts had the highest concentration of HTV accidents in 2022, while the North-West and Outer districts reported the highest number of fatalities in 2023. To combat this issue, Delhi Traffic Police has implemented measures such as conducting psychological tests for HTV drivers and providing education for drivers across different transport sectors.

Furthermore, the rising trend of bike stunts on the streets of Hyderabad has become a cause for concern. Teenagers, mostly between the ages of 16 and 22, have been performing dangerous stunts on high-capacity bikes and sharing videos of their exploits on social media platforms. Traffic police claim that only a few stunts have been reported, but road safety experts blame parents for not restricting their children from engaging in such risky behavior.

In a separate incident, a 20-year-old woman from Chakdah, Parul Khatun, was arrested for allegedly shooting her boyfriend, Akhlaque Alam, in order to end their extramarital relationship. The police suspect that Parul had help from at least one other person, but she has not disclosed how she acquired the firearm and the bike used in the crime. The investigation led to the discovery of Parul as the prime suspect after Akhlaque Alam’s body, with gunshot wounds, was found in Ganguly Para at Madanpur railway station.

Road accidents continue to be a major concern, and authorities are working tirelessly to address the various factors that contribute to these tragedies..