Odisha Ranks Fourth Nationwide in Pothole Deaths, 425 Lives Lost in 5 Years
Road Deaths from Potholes Rise 53% in 5 Years: UP Worst Affected as India Reports: In a shocking revelation presented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in the Lok Sabha, as many as 9,438 people have lost their lives in pothole-related accidents across India between 2020 and 2024. The data exposes a grim reality of road safety and raises serious questions about infrastructure accountability.
According to official figures, 1,555 deaths were recorded in 2020, a year marked by reduced traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, by 2024, the number had surged to 2,385 — reflecting a 53% increase over five years.
Uttar Pradesh Tops the List
Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of fatalities, with 5,127 deaths — accounting for more than half of the nationwide total. Madhya Pradesh followed with 969 deaths, while Tamil Nadu recorded 612 deaths. Odisha reported 425 fatalities, and Punjab and Assam recorded 414 and 395 deaths respectively.
In contrast, government data indicates that no deaths due to potholes were recorded in Bihar, Goa, Chandigarh, and Andhra Pradesh during the same period — a claim that has raised eyebrows given the vast road networks in some of these regions.
Delhi and the Northeast Report Low Figures
The national capital Delhi reported 50 deaths over five years. Meanwhile, northeastern states such as Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura recorded zero fatalities in this category.
Supreme Court Intervention
The issue of pothole-related deaths previously drew the attention of the Supreme Court of India in 2018, when it took suo motu cognizance of a report by The Times of India. At the time, the court observed that potholes had caused a significant number of deaths and criticized authorities for failing in their duty to maintain roads.
Though the government claims that fatalities have reduced compared to 2017, when 3,597 deaths were reported in a single year, the steady rise since 2020 signals that the problem remains far from resolved.
As families continue to lose loved ones to what many describe as “avoidable deaths,” the data has reignited debate over accountability, road maintenance standards, and the accuracy of reporting mechanisms across states.
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