India, July 21 -- Rising road accidents have become a major concern for residents of Bhubaneswar, with reckless driving, drunk driving, and repeated traffic rule violations continuing to claim lives.

According to records, more than 1,200 road accidents have occurred in the city over the past four-and-a-half years, resulting in over 850 deaths. The situation has worsened this year. By the end of June, more than 400 accidents had already been reported, claiming nearly 100 lives. The number is said to be three times higher than the corresponding period last year.

Road safety expert Subrat Kumar Nanda attributed the rising fatalities to habitual traffic offenders. He said many vehicles involved in serious accidents had a history of repeate...