77 Years of Independence and Still No Safe Roads: Are Fatal Accidents in Bihar the Result of Systemic Negligence?

Despite 77 years of independence, the fact that neither state nor central governments have provided a reliable road network to every village signals a significant lack of development. In Bihar, for instance, there are over nine diyara areas where residents rely on boats for months at a time to travel between their villages and the nearest city.

On August 23, 2024, a BPSC teacher tragically drowned in the Ganga River near Nasariganj Ghat. The incident was widely reported by media channels as an accident. However, according to Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, every citizen is entitled to adequate infrastructure, including roads, rail networks, and medical facilities. Yet, we continue to witness over 100 deaths annually, often due to faulty boats or pontoon bridges.

This raises a troubling question: are these deaths the result of negligence by our current and previous Chief Ministers, the NHAI Project Director, and the entire system? Such repeated tragedies suggest that these incidents might not merely be accidents, but rather the result of systemic failures that could be seen as a form of planned negligence.

In my opinion, these are not mere accidents but should be considered as planned murders by the system.