Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: Salcete accounted for more than 40% of all traffic accidents in 2024, making it the deadliest taluka in South Goa. In the district this year, a traffic accident claimed a life on average every 2.73 days.
According to government figures, 135 people were killed in 1,276 accidents that occurred in the district between January 1 and December 24. Salcete was the most accident-prone area, accounting for 57 of these fatalities.
The most accidents (167), 17 of which were fatal, were reported in Maina-Curtorim, one of the Salcete police jurisdictions. Colva recorded 68 incidents with 10 fatalities, compared to 77 accidents in Margao with nine fatalities. Fatorda reported seven fatalities from 105 accidents, while Cuncolim recorded 125 accidents with 14 fatalities.
With 20 fatalities out of 137 accidents, Ponda likewise had a high incidence of fatal accidents in South Goa. 18 of the 219 accidents that Verna saw were fatal.
The overall number of accidents in South Goa similarly showed a decreased trend, going from 1,509 in 2022 to 1,405 in 2023 and then to 1,276 in 2024, according to the data. Salcete’s death toll has varied, though, with 64 recorded in 2022, 56 in 2023, and 57 in 2024.
South Goa recorded 49,783 motor vehicle infraction cases in 2024, up from 48,833 in 2023 and 34,931 in 2022. Preliminary investigations show that roughly 75 of the deaths involved people under 40, even with more stringent enforcement. The main causes were determined to be negligence, intoxicated driving, and speeding.
