Amaravati, Apr 16 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Thursday called for coordinated action to curb the rising number of road accidents.
The push to strengthen road safety measures and implement the PM RAKSHA (Rahat) scheme comes amid a spate of road accidents in the state, including one this morning in which at least eight devotees were killed and 10 others injured after a Light Commercial Vehicle collided with a tanker in Mantralayam.
Yadav noted that departments such as transport and police must ensure precautionary measures at vulnerable locations, while health systems must remain prepared for emergency response.
“Collective efforts from all stakeholders are essential to curb the rising number of road accidents in the state,” Yadav said in a press release.
He said the PM RAKSHA scheme ensures free cashless treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh within the golden hour for accident victims, highlighting its universal applicability.
The minister added that individuals who inform authorities about accidents will receive an incentive of Rs 25,000 and assured that they will not face any police-related inconvenience while reporting.
Officials informed the minister that if treatment expenses exceed Rs 1.5 lakh, the remaining costs will be covered under the NTR Vaidya Seva Trust support system.
So far, 56 cases have been registered under the scheme, including a recent case in Chittoor district, indicating gradual expansion across Andhra Pradesh.
The minister said the financial burden during emergencies severely affects families and added that the scheme is designed to reduce stress and improve access to care.
Under the scheme, services are currently available in 656 government and private hospitals, ensuring wider accessibility and immediate treatment for accident victims.
Efforts are underway to expand the scheme to at least 1,500 hospitals under the NTR Vaidya Seva Trust to improve treatment access across regions, the press release said.
According to Yadav, 71,108 accident cases were recorded in 2024, of which 23,810 victims received treatment within the golden hour, improving survival outcomes significantly.
In 2025, out of 75,329 cases, 44,305 victims received timely treatment, while in 2026, so far, 18,558 out of 19,278 cases have been treated within the golden hour.
He expressed concern that 23 deaths occur daily due to road accidents, noting that 79 per cent of cases are caused by overspeeding.
Meanwhile, transport officials said 82 per cent of road accidents are due to human error, and timely treatment can reduce deaths by up to 50 per cent.
Similarly, police officials said Rs 2.5 crore has been disbursed as compensation at Rs 2 lakh each to families of hit-and-run victims in NTR district. PTI MS SSK
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