Fri Nov 08 23:05:49 UTC 2024: ## Sikia Bypass Turning Point of Danger: Locals Protest Against Deadly Accidents
**Varanasi:** A group of enraged villagers led by Rajkumar Patel, president of the Janhit Sena, staged a protest on Saturday against frequent accidents occurring at the Sikia Bypass turn on the Varanasi-Shaktinagar route. The protestors allege that the sharp “L-type” turn, built during road construction, poses a significant danger to drivers, especially at night.
Patel explained that the turn is difficult to identify in the dark, leading drivers from Adalhat to Narayanpur to misjudge the road and veer off course. This often results in collisions with nearby houses or vehicles overturning into a nearby pond.
Villagers claim that over 200 vehicles have been involved in accidents at this turn, leading to the loss of over a dozen lives. A recent incident on Saturday night saw a car lose control and crash into a dilapidated house, igniting a fire. Two occupants managed to escape by breaking a window, but the car was completely destroyed.
Adding to the danger, the nearby speed breaker is also broken. Locals believe timely repair of the breaker and installation of large warning signs could have prevented numerous accidents. The protestors warned of an indefinite protest if their demands for the repair of the speed breaker and installation of signboards are not met immediately.
The protest saw the participation of several villagers including Chandrashekhar Ojha, Dr. Rajeev Kumar Singh, Anand Kumar Azad, Rajesh Yadav, Ramesh Singh Swami, Mohammad Zaki, Kailash Singh, Manoj Singh, Atmaram Goswami, and Vijay Kumar.
First Piper 