Accident Victim Centre Disburses Rs 63.5 Lakh to Hit-and-Run Victims in City

The Road Traffic Accident Victim Assistance Centre has provided Rs 63.5 lakh in compensation to 79 victims and their families since its establishment last year. The centre was established to give financial support to people affected by road accidents.

It began operations on December 8 at the city police commissioner’s office and has been processing cases since April 1, 2022. Families of 16 people who died in hit-and-run accidents have each received ₹2 lakh. Another 63 people who were seriously injured were given ₹50,000 each.

In the past three years, the city recorded 16 deaths in such accidents—three in 2022, ten in 2023, and three so far in 2024. Along with these fatalities, dozens of people were left with serious injuries. Currently, 106 applications are still under review.

City Police Commissioner Sankhabrata Bagchi said the programme will soon expand to cover all road accident cases, not just hit-and-run incidents. “We are launching a new programme soon for all road accident cases,” he said on Thursday.

Bagchi also urged people to help accident victims without fear of legal trouble. He referred to the “Good Samaritan” rule, which protects those who assist. “If someone takes an accident victim to a hospital right away, neither the police nor the hospital will question them. Instead, the district administration will reward them with ₹5,000,” he explained.

The commissioner added that ten Good Samaritans will also be selected each year at the national level and given a reward of ₹1 lakh by the government. “We want people to come forward to save lives without hesitation. Recognition and protection under this law will strengthen that effort,” he said.

The centre’s work has provided financial relief to victims and reassurance to citizens willing to act quickly during emergencies on the road.