By IANS
Jaipur : Facing criticism over increasing number of road accidents in the state, the Rajasthan government has decided to launch a campaign against overloaded vehicles.
“The 15-day campaign, which starts Thursday would penalise owners of the overloaded vehicles,” Rajasthan’s Transport Minister Younis Khan said.
The transport department has deputed magistrates at 79 check-posts spread across the state. About 237 police personnel would take part in the drive to help the department.
The decision to launch the campaign was taken at a meeting chaired by Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria held here recently.
It was also decided that after the completion of the campaign, another meeting would be held here on Oct 8 to review the situation.
Rajasthan last year had topped the country in the number of deaths caused by road accidents.
At least 2,400 persons lost their lives in about 10,000 road accidents in the desert state last year, according to a report in a neuro science journal.
Recently, 85 persons were killed when a truck carrying about 150 pilgrims fell into a 30-foot-deep gorge in Desuri area, about 150 km from Udaipur in southern Rajasthan.
The pilgrims were on their way to the holy town of Ramdevara (named after the saint Baba Ramadevara) in Jaisalmer district.