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Between 2019 and 2023, India reported 9,109 pothole deaths, and 4,792 of these were from Uttar Pradesh
While the official data for the recent months is not available, a number of deaths were reported in the last few weeks due to potholes. (Representational image)
Potholes and under-construction roads are no minor road issue—they claim thousands of lives in India every year. Official data analysed by News18 shows that India reported five pothole deaths on average daily between 2019 and 2023, with Uttar Pradesh alone contributing three of these.
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In the five-year period, India reported 9,109 pothole deaths, and 4,792 of these were from Uttar Pradesh, data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) shows.
The latest data, issued last week, shows that across the country, 2,161 pothole deaths were registered in 2023—almost six per day on average. At least 1,320 (61.1%) were from Uttar Pradesh alone, making up for about four deaths daily.
The toll from Uttar Pradesh looks even starker when compared to Madhya Pradesh, the second-highest in 2023, with just 177 deaths. Tamil Nadu was third with 159 fatalities. Only three states in India recorded more than 100 pothole deaths in 2023.
The year 2022 saw fewer pothole deaths at 1,856, with Uttar Pradesh contributing 1,030 of these. A total of four states registered more than 100 pothole deaths in 2022—Madhya Pradesh (199), Assam (117), and Tamil Nadu (107).
In the pre-Covid year 2019, the number of pothole deaths stood at 2,140, and 1,034 (48%) were from Uttar Pradesh. Punjab was the second biggest contributor with 245 such deaths, followed by Odisha with 112 fatalities.
‘Dead End’
While the official data for the recent months is not available, a number of deaths were reported in the last few weeks due to potholes.
Last week, a class 8 girl died after her father lost control of his bike due to a pothole, and a tractor ran over her in Aligarh. A 58-year-old doctor died after his scooter skidded over a pothole and he came under the rear tyre of a truck in Maharashtra.
These tragedies highlight how a nationwide crisis plays out in local headlines week after week.
While pothole deaths in Maharashtra witness severe outrage, the state has reported significant improvement in numbers—from 72 in 2019 to 39 the next year and four in 2022. In 2023, 29 such deaths were reported in the state.
The danger does not end with potholes; even dug-up or under-construction stretches can also claim lives—numbers suggest much more than potholes.
Over 20,000 Deaths on Under-Construction, Under-Repair Roads
A total of 20,321 people were killed across India on roads that were either under construction or those with ongoing road works—more than 11 per day on average, with UP contributing five of these. Uttar Pradesh reported 8,667 of these deaths—over 40% of the total.
Nationally, deaths on under-construction roads dipped slightly in 2023, from 4,054 in 2022, but in Uttar Pradesh, they continued to rise.
In 2023, 3,904 deaths were reported on under-construction roads or those with ongoing road works, including 1,832 from Uttar Pradesh, up from 1,819 in 2022.
Every pothole left unattended, every dug-up stretch without safeguards, is not just an inconvenience—it’s a potential death trap, killing almost 20 people per day. The numbers suggest that fixing them is as urgent as building new roads and making policies for a safer commute.
About the Author
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived…Read More
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived… Read More
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