Pothole deaths form just 1.3% of road fatalities, Telangana, AP report none

Even as pothole-related deaths in India have risen sharply by 53 per cent over the last five years, such fatalities still account for only a small fraction of the country’s overall road accident toll, government data shows.

Between 2020 and 2024, a total of 9,438 people died in accidents attributed to potholes, peaking at 2,385 deaths in 2024, according to information shared in Parliament by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. By comparison, India records around 1.7 to 1.8 lakh road accident deaths annually from all causes, placing pothole-related fatalities at about 1.3 per cent of total road deaths in 2024.

The data showed a brief dip in pothole deaths in 2021, followed by a steady year-on-year rise. Fatalities increased from 1,481 in 2021 to 1,856 in 2022, 2,161 in 2023 and reached their highest level last year.

Uttar Pradesh emerged as the worst-affected state, accounting for more than 54 per cent of all pothole deaths nationwide. The state reported 5,127 fatalities between 2020 and 2024, including 1,369 deaths in 2024 alone , more than half of the national total.

Madhya Pradesh followed with 969 deaths over five years, while Tamil Nadu recorded 612 deaths and Punjab 414 during the same period.

In contrast, states such as Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, along with Bihar and Goa, reported no pothole-related accidents or fatalities in official submissions to the Centre between 2020 and 2024. This stands out against their broader road safety record, as both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh register several thousand road accident deaths each year from causes such as speeding, collisions and traffic violations.

Nationally, 23,056 pothole-related accidents were reported over the five-year period, resulting in 19,956 injuries , including 9,670 classified as grievous , highlighting the serious injury burden even where fatalities are limited.

Gadkari said that while the Centre is responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways, state governments are accountable for roads within their jurisdiction . He added that the government has prioritised maintenance of the existing highway network and put in place systems to ensure timely repairs by designated agencies.

While pothole deaths represent only a small share of overall road fatalities, experts note that poor road conditions often act as a risk multiplier , contributing to crashes caused primarily by speeding or loss of vehicle control, particularly on state and local roads.