NEW DELHI: Pothole-related accidents claimed 9,438 lives across India between 2020 and 2024, according to government data. Uttar Pradesh accounted for 5,127 of these fatalities — more than half the national total. In contrast, over half a dozen states and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa and Chandigarh, reported zero crashes, injuries or deaths attributed to potholes, raising concerns about the accuracy and consistency of police reporting.
In a detailed reply to the Lok Sabha on Thursday, the road transport ministry said fatalities due to potholes have risen steadily from 1,555 in 2020 — a year marked by Covid-19 restrictions — to 2,385 in 2024, reflecting an increase of more than 53%.
After Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh recorded the second-highest number of pothole-related deaths at 969 during the five-year period. It was followed by Tamil Nadu (612), Odisha (425), Punjab (414) and Assam (395). Among Union Territories, Delhi reported the highest number of such fatalities at 50.
Data for road accidents in 2025 has not yet been released.
Road safety experts expressed surprise over the wide variation in reporting. “While smaller states like Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura have reported accidents and deaths caused by potholes, larger states such as Andhra Pradesh and Bihar — with extensive road networks — have reported none. Without objective and consistent reporting of crash data and causes, it becomes difficult to identify the real issues and take corrective measures,” said an expert involved in crash data analysis.
Official reports show that pothole-related fatalities had peaked in 2017 at 3,597 before declining in subsequent years. In 2018, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of media reports highlighting the high number of deaths due to potholes and directed authorities to take immediate corrective steps.
The court had observed that it was common knowledge that many lives had been lost in accidents caused by potholes, and emphasised that authorities responsible for road maintenance must discharge their duties properly.
