Pothole-related road fatalities increase by 53% in 5 years

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Feb 13, 2026 11:26 AM IST

Pothole-related road accident fatalities have seen a significant upward trend over the last five years (2020-2024), except a slight dip in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic period. Uttar Pradesh accounts for most road deaths due to potholes.

According to the latest data tabled by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, deaths due to potholes increased by over 53% since 2020.

A total of 1,555 persons died in 2020 in pothole-related road accidents, which increased to 2,385 fatalities in 2024. This translates into over six road deaths due to potholes daily. Except for the minor decrease of about 4.7% between 2020 and 2021, the numbers rose sharply in the subsequent years. A total of 9,438 people died in pothole-related accidents in the last five years.

The number of road accidents due to potholes also increased in the same proportion. The data shows that a total of 3,713 such accidents were recorded in 2020, which increased to 5,432 accidents in 2024. In total, 23,056 accidents caused by potholes were reported over the five-year period. The data includes accidents caused due to potholes on all roads, including national highways, state highways and urban roads.

Pothole-related road fatalities increase by 53% in 5 years

Last week, a 25-year-old biker died in Delhi’s Janakpuri after falling into an excavation pit.

Pothole-related injuries also increased — from 3,167 in 2020 to 4,643 in 2024 — over the last five years. While there was a slight decrease in 2021 to 3,103, total injuries peaked significantly in 2023 at 5,309.

The data shows grievous injuries rose by approximately 34% during this period, from 1,672 in 2020 to 2,238 in 2024. Minor injuries saw a higher increase of 61%, rising from 1,495 to 2,405. Overall, a total of 9,670 people suffered grievous injuries and 10,286 persons minor injury in these accidents.

Most deaths in UP

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The state-wise analysis of the data shows Uttar Pradesh alone contributed more than half of the national total of pothole deaths. The state consistently reported the highest number of fatalities in the country — from 759 deaths in 2020 to 1,369 in 2024.

Madhya Pradesh saw a notable increase in fatalities from 96 in 2020 to 277 in 2024. This was followed by Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Assam. The top five states put together account for over 82% of the total road accident fatalities due to potholes.

In terms of number of annual road accident fatalities, India tops globally, followed by China, which accounts for just 36% of India’s total, and the US at 25%. India has the second-largest road network in the world — about 63.45 lakh km, including 1.46 lakh km of NHs and 1.80 lakh km of state highways. A total of 1.77 lakh people died in road accidents in 2024, an increase of 2.31% from 2023, when 1.73 lakh fatalities were recorded in 4.8 lakh road accidents.

Dheeraj Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with the Business Bureau of The Indian Express. He plays a critical role in covering India’s massive infrastructure sectors, providing in-depth reporting on the connectivity lifelines of the nation.
Expertise & Focus Areas: Mishra’s journalism is focused on two of the country’s most capital-intensive and public-facing ministries:

Ministry of Railways: Tracking the operations, safety, and development of India’s vast railway network.

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways: Covering policy decisions, infrastructure projects, and highway development.

What sets Mishra apart is his rigorous use of the Right to Information (RTI) Actas a primary tool for news gathering. By relying on official data and government records, he ensures a high degree of accuracy and trustworthiness in his reporting. This data-driven approach has resulted in numerous impactful reports that hold public institutions accountable and bring transparency to government operations.
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