Karwar: The stretch of National Highway-66 from district headquarters-Karwar to Bhatkal-is turning out to be a perilous one for the motorists.

As many as 118 accidents have been reported from January till April this year, in which 358 people have lost their lives. In the past five-and-half years, as many as 454 people have lost their lives on this 130 km stretch of road.

Several people attribute the ongoing four-lane work as being responsible for the increasing number of accidents.

“There are several steep curves on this stretch of the highway. Most drivers are unaware of this, which results in accident. Further, there are no sign boards erected at several stretches on the highway. This too has contributed to the increasing accidents. So much so, one is constrained to call the highway a ‘death highway’,” notes Ramachandra, a driver.

However, Additional Superintendent of Police Gopal Byakoda, has his own take on the problem.

Byakoda, on his part, attributes the highway accidents to the negligent driving by the motorists.

“Majority of accidents occur due to negligent driving by drivers. Chief among them are motorbike riders who do not wear helmets, driving while under the influence of alcohol, and using mobile phones while at wheel. The deaths and injuries due to accidents can be curtailed only if motorists adhere strictly to traffic rules and regulations,” he points out.

According to him, parents should not allow their minor wards to drive the vehicles. Further, people riding on two-wheelers, overtaking of vehicles at steep curves, and not following the instruction displayed on sign boards.