Confusion Over Signboard Wording: “Go, Slow Work in Progress” or “Go Slow, Work in Progress?”
Medak, 17 Oct 2024: Following a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of seven people at Usirikepally, the Roads & Buildings (R&B) department swiftly installed multiple signboards overnight at the accident site. The new signage aims to alert road users about the ongoing construction and road widening work on the Narsapur-Veldurthy stretch.
The road works include the construction of a culvert over a stream, leading to traffic being diverted onto a narrow earthen path. Local residents revealed that there had been no warning signs in place before the accident occurred on Wednesday, sparking concerns about road safety.
The unfortunate incident happened when the driver, identified as Guguloth Nam Singh, lost control of the vehicle while navigating the narrow stretch. The car struck a roadside tree before plunging into the stream. Singh survived the crash but tragically lost his wife, daughter, and five other close family members in the accident.
Eyewitnesses and local residents believe the passengers may have survived if the car hadn’t fallen into the stream. The absence of signboards before the accident has raised questions about the preventive measures that could have been taken.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the R&B department acted promptly to install signs such as “Go Slow, Work in Progress,” warning motorists of the ongoing work. However, locals are questioning the phrasing on some of the boards, debating whether it should be read as “Go, Slow Work in Progress” or “Go Slow, Work in Progress,” adding to the confusion surrounding the situation.
As post-mortems were completed on Thursday, grieving relatives and family members gathered at the Narsapur area hospital to mourn their loved ones. The incident has sparked conversations about road safety, and many are urging authorities to take more proactive steps in preventing such tragedies. Further investigations are ongoing to determine if negligence in road safety measures contributed to the accident.
