Road accident deaths in Nagpur fall 27% in eight months, 57 fewer lives lost
Nagpur recorded the second-sharpest drop in road deaths in Maharashtra between January and August 2026, behind only Akola.
Road accident deaths in Nagpur have fallen sharply this year. In the first eight months of 2026, deaths in road accidents were down 27 per cent from the same period last year. Nagpur ranks second in Maharashtra in terms of the percentage fall in deaths. Akola is first, with a 28 per cent reduction.
According to state-level accident data, Nagpur recorded 711 road accidents between January and August 2026. They left 156 people dead and 728 injured. In the same period of 2025, the city had 840 accidents, in which 213 people died and 817 were injured.
Accidents are thus down 15 per cent, deaths 27 per cent and injuries 11 per cent. Over the eight months, the city had 129 fewer accidents and 57 fewer deaths.
The decline comes as the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and Nagpur Traffic Police have stepped up enforcement and road safety measures. RTO (City) Kiran Bidkar led several campaigns to improve compliance with traffic rules. Traffic police, under DCP (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar, have increased patrolling and action against violators.
Several special drives, including Operation U-Turn, focused on violations considered major causes of accidents. Police stepped up monitoring at accident-prone spots, checked vehicles and acted against motorists who broke traffic rules.
Alongside enforcement, the RTO has also expanded awareness campaigns. Programmes were held for school and college students, auto-rickshaw drivers and school bus drivers. Helmet rallies, walkathons and health and eye check-up camps were also organised to encourage safe driving habits.
Two years of steady decline
Accident figures in Nagpur have been falling for the past two years. In 2024, the city recorded 1,255 accidents and 345 deaths. In 2025, accidents fell to 1,153 and deaths to 270. Officials attributed the decline to sustained enforcement and road safety awareness programmes.
The latest figures show the trend has continued in 2026. Even so, the challenge remains large. Despite the fall, Nagpur averaged more than 19 road accidents and about six deaths a week between January and August.
Traffic police and RTO officials have appealed to motorists to observe discipline on the road, follow speed limits and other traffic rules, and always wear helmets and seat belts.
Officials said continued public cooperation will be essential to sustain the reduction in deaths over the rest of the year and make Nagpur's roads safer.
