At Least 2,175 people died in road accidents in the industrial and mining districts of Sundargarh and Keonjhar, under western range of police, from January 2013 to August 2016. Despite the fact that there has been a drastic cut in mining operations from 2012-end, the scenario continues to be a worrying one for both the district authorities and police. The western range consisting of Sundargarh Police District and Rourkela Police District in Sundargarh district and Keonjhar Police District in Keonjhar district are considered accident prone due to movement of heavy mineral carrying transport vehicles. From January, 2013 to August, 2016, the Sundargarh Police District reported a staggering 799 deaths and 691 grievous injuries in 1,309 mishaps, while the Rourkela Police District recorded 626 human casualties with 671 critical injuries in 1,543 accidents. The number of human lives lost under Keonjhar Police District jurisdiction during that period was also high at 770 with 712 critical injuries in 1,871 road accidents. Together the three police districts recorded a total of 2,819 minor injury cases. In the past eight months, the Sundargarh Police District witnessed 137 deaths and 106 critical injuries and Rourkela Police District saw 108 deaths with 129 critical injuries, but the Keonjhar Police District showed drastic drop in human casualties at 82 with 82 grievous injuries. Rourkela-based IG of Police (western range) RK Sharma advised commuters to strictly adhere to traffic norms including use of helmets by motor-cyclists, maintain lane disciplines, avoid rash and reckless driving in inebriated condition. Meanwhile, as directed by the Odisha Government the authorities of the twin districts are gearing up to prepare action plans to curb mishaps. Sundargarh Collector, Bhupendra Singh Poonia said about 40 black spots have already been identified on the NHs 143 and 520, State Highways 10 and 10(A), Sundargarh to MCL road and other busy roads of the district to ensure corrective action through engineering intervention. The Collector informed police and transport regulatory authorities have also been instructed to work in tandem towards strict enforcement of traffic rules, book errant drivers and also seize unfit vehicles. He said help of educational institutions and vehicle owners’ associations are being taken to generate road safety awareness.