Nearly 50,000 people killed in road accidents every year in India could survive if they received timely medical treatment, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday, citing findings of an AIIMS-Delhi-led study.
Speaking at a road safety awareness event organised by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and mobility platform Rapido, Gadkari said a committee headed by an AIIMS doctor found that around 30 per cent of road accident victims could be saved if taken to hospital immediately.
India records nearly five lakh road accidents and around 1.8 lakh fatalities annually. The committee’s assessment suggests that prompt medical intervention could save about 50,000 lives each year.
The findings underline the importance of the “Golden Hour", the critical period after a traumatic injury when swift treatment can significantly improve survival chances.
Gadkari also highlighted the Centre’s Rahveer (Good Samaritan) scheme, under which citizens who help accident victims during the Golden Hour receive a reward of Rs 25,000.
