Sirmaur police crack down on drunken driving, 162 challans issued in month
To enhance road safety and curb alcohol-related accidents, the Sirmaur police had launched a month-long campaign against drunk driving in April.
As a direct result of the campaign, 162 challans were issued under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act for driving under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, 25 individuals were arrested for serious or repeat violations.
The difference compared to the previous year is striking — during April 2024, only 22 challans were issued and no arrests were made for drunk driving in the district. This represents a 636 per cent increase in challans and a 100 per cent increase in arrests.
The campaign, which combined strategic enforcement with community outreach, resulted in a significant increase in action against violators and brought renewed focus to the dangers of driving under the influence of liquor.
The initiative was launched after a detailed analysis of the recent road accident data revealed a worrying trend—alcohol consumption was a recurring factor in many serious and fatal crashes.
Under the leadership of Superintendent of Police (SP), Sirmaur, the police identified accident-prone areas and timings where drunk driving incidents were most likely to occur.
Based on this analysis, a carefully designed ‘naka’ (road checkpoint) plan was implemented across key highways, urban centres and areas near liquor vends.
Police teams equipped with breath analysers and mobile patrol units were deployed during late evenings and night hours — especially on weekends and festive days.
A 2023 report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) had noted that alcohol and drug influence accounted for approximately 1.9 per cent of total road crashes in India, but these were disproportionately fatal. Experts attribute this to impaired reaction times, poor judgement and high-speed collisions common in such cases.
In hilly terrains like Himachal Pradesh, the consequences of drunk driving can be even more devastating. Narrow roads, sharp bends and lack of barriers make any lapse in judgement potentially fatal. Local officials note that many accidents in remote areas go unreported, suggesting that official statistics may understate the actual toll.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Headquarters and supervisory officer of district traffic wing, Ramakant Thakur, who shared these figures with The Tribune, highlighted the seriousness of the issue. “We cannot allow reckless behaviour like drunk driving to go unchecked. It puts innocent lives at risk and causes irreparable damage to families. Through this campaign under the leadership of SP Sirmaur, we wanted to send a clear message — such behaviour will not be tolerated,” he said.
Superintendent of Police, Sirmaur, Nishchint Singh Negi expressed pride in the department’s efforts and called upon the public to embrace road safety as a shared responsibility. He said, “This campaign is not just about issuing challans or making arrests — it’s about saving lives. Every accident prevented means a family spared from trauma, and every life saved is a victory for the entire community. Our mission is to create a culture where responsible driving becomes the norm, not the exception.”
In addition to enforcement, the Sirmaur police also conducted public awareness drives. Officers visited educational institutions, auto and taxi stands and held informal sessions in marketplaces to spread awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. Informational pamphlets, banners and social media content were used to ensure the message reached all age groups. The initiative received wide support from the public and has been described as a model for other districts.
Himachal Tribune