Bengaluru Records Second Highest Pedestrian Deaths in India With 246 Fatalities

Bengaluru recorded the second-highest number of pedestrian deaths in road accidents among India's million-plus cities in 2024, according to the latest report from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The city registered 246 pedestrian fatalities and 1,039 injuries across 1,216 accidents involving pedestrians, with senior citizens aged 60 and above comprising the majority of the victims.

Delhi topped the list of million-plus cities with 584 pedestrian deaths in 2,184 accidents.

The data highlights a worrying five-year upward trend in Bengaluru. Between 2020 and 2024, a total of 1,108 pedestrians lost their lives in 4,954 accidents. These incidents involved pedestrians being hit while crossing roads, standing on footpaths, and walking along roads.

In 2024, Bengaluru reported a total of 4,769 road accidents, resulting in 894 deaths. The 246 pedestrian fatalities accounted for approximately 27 percent of the city's total road casualties. The rise marks a significant increase from 2020, when the city recorded 163 pedestrian deaths in 745 accidents.

Two-wheelers emerged as the single largest threat to pedestrians in Bengaluru, causing 28.4 percent of the pedestrian deaths. Cars, taxis, vans, and light motor vehicles were identified as the next most common vehicles involved in these fatalities.

At the state level, Karnataka ranked fifth in the country with 2,321 pedestrian deaths in 2024. Locally and nationally, pedestrians remain highly vulnerable, constituting the second-largest category of road accident victims after two-wheeler riders. Across India, pedestrian deaths accounted for 20.6 percent of total road fatalities, claiming 36,526 lives.

The Ministry's report attributed the rising pedestrian casualties to several key factors. These include overspeeding, poor lane discipline, and the failure of drivers to yield the right of way to pedestrians. Additionally, infrastructure issues such as inadequate footpaths, lack of zebra crossings, and frequent encroachments on pedestrian spaces contributed significantly to the safety hazards.