As fog increases accidents, Gurugram police form teams to patrol KMP Expressway

Police said many commuters have complained that there are no emergency services on the stretch and ambulances take time to reach, delaying first-aid for accident victims

Published on: Nov 8, 2021, 00:05:49 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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The Gurugram police will start patrolling the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway to check the speed of vehicles and to ensure lights are working on the stretch. According to the police, with the increase in fog during the early mornings and nights, the number of accidents has also started to increase.

Mangled remains of a Maruti Ertiga after a truck rammed into it, leaving eight members of a family from Uttar Pradesh dead on the KMP Expressway in Haryana’s Jhajjar district in October. According to the police, with the increase in fog during the early mornings and nights, the number of accidents has also started to increase. (HT Archive)

Six accidents took place in the last three days due to poor visibility in the early morning, said police.

KK Rao, the commissioner of police, said that the accidents occurred due to poor visibility on the stretches that were covered in a thick blanket of fog. “Most accidents take place in the early hours due to the fog and speeding of vehicles. People don’t drive with hazard lights on and, while driving on the expressway, they accelerate over 100 kmph,” he said.

Rao said police have taken initiatives to control the speed of heavy vehicles and regular patrolling will also ensure the condition of lights improves, resulting in better commute.

Police said many commuters have complained that there are no emergency services on the stretch and ambulances take time to reach, delaying first-aid for accident victims.

Over 200 personnel will be deployed in two shifts on the stretch from Bilaspur to Jhajjar exit, said police.

Rao said they have informed nearby trauma centres to send ambulances on time in case of emergency. “We have identified key spots on KMP where most of the accidents take place during fog. At all such points, reflector tapes have been installed and medians have been painted to ensure commuters can navigate through these stretches during low visibility. In addition, we have also issued a fog advisory,” he said.

Police said station house officers of police stations near the KMP have been informed to keep a check on the patrolling and to alert the police control room in case of any mishap.

Rao said petrol pump teams and the shopkeepers have also been alerted to keep passing information to the police teams in case of an accident.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More