State records country’s lowest accidental death rate
Moa Jamir
Dimapur | May 24
Most traffic accidents in Nagaland during 2024 occurred between 9 pm and midnight, with late-night crashes emerging as the single most dangerous time period on the State’s roads, according to the latest Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India 2024 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
While overall accidental death show a sharp decline from 2023, the report showed that seven out of the State’s 24 traffic accident cases were recorded between 9 pm and 12 midnight, the highest for any time slot during the year.
The late-evening and night hours also collectively accounted for a major share of accidents in Nagaland.
Apart from the seven cases recorded between 9 pm and midnight, three more occurred between 6 pm and 9 pm, while another three cases were reported between 3 am and 6 am.
Meanwhile, six accident cases were recorded between noon and 3 pm.
Meanwhile, the NCRB data stated that Nagaland recorded 44 accidental deaths in 2024 compared to 72 in 2023, marking a decline of 38.9%.
Nagaland also recorded the lowest accidental death rate in the country at 1.9 per one lakh population, far below the national average of 33.3.
Of the 44 accidental deaths recorded in the State, 40 victims were male and four female.
However, the data further indicated that a majority of accidental death victims in Nagaland were in their economically and socially active years.
Of the 44 accidental deaths recorded in 2024, 21 victims belonged to the 30-and-above to below-45 age group, while another 13 victims were in the 18-and-above to below-30 category. Together, these two age groups accounted for nearly 77% of all accidental deaths in the State in 2024.
Traffic accidents account for most deaths
Traffic accidents remained the leading cause of accidental deaths in Nagaland during 2024.
The State recorded 24 traffic accident cases, which caused injuries to 27 persons and resulted in 26 deaths.
Road accidents alone accounted for 23 of the total traffic accident cases while there was one was related with railway crossing.
Overspeeding emerged as the leading cause of road accidents in the State, accounting for 12 cases and 13 deaths. Dangerous or careless driving and overtaking accounted for two cases causing one death, while poor weather conditions and lack of road infrastructure were also cited as contributing factors.
Vehicle-wise data showed that trucks/lorries/mini trucks accounted for the highest number of fatalities at nine deaths. SUVs/cars/jeeps were linked to the highest number of injuries at 21 and 11 deaths. Two-wheelers accounted for four deaths, while one death involved a three-wheeler/auto rickshaw.
Month-wise, April and December recorded the highest number of traffic accident cases in the State with four incidents each.
Road classification data showed that State Highways recorded the highest number of accident cases at eight, though no deaths were reported on those stretches. National Highways recorded six cases resulting in six deaths, while other roads accounted for 11 deaths.
Besides traffic accidents, drowning accounted for seven accidental deaths in Nagaland during 2024. Other causes included electrocution (2), falls (1), accidental fire due to electrical short circuit (1), firearm-related accident (1), sudden death (1), drug overdose (1), and two deaths categorised under “other causes.”
Nagaland also recorded one death due to forces of nature, which the report identified as a landslide-related death.
National status
At the national level, the NCRB recorded 4,95,256 traffic accidents during 2024, including 4,67,967 road accidents, causing injuries to 4,51,597 persons and resulting in 1,99,443 deaths.
The report noted that the highest number of traffic accidents nationally occurred between 6 pm and 9 pm, during which 1,01,232 cases were reported across the country.
Nationally, overspeeding remained the leading cause of road accidents, accounting for 61.2% of such incidents. Traffic accidents also remained the biggest contributor to accidental deaths in India, accounting for 42.6% of all accidental fatalities during 2024.
Overall accidental deaths in India increased from 4,44,104 in 2023 to 4,67,857 in 2024, while the national accidental death rate rose from 31.9 to 33.3 per one lakh population.
Suicides decline sharply
Alongside the decline in accidental deaths, Nagaland also recorded a sharp fall in suicides during 2024, with both the number and rate emerging as the lowest in the country.
The State reported 11 suicides in 2024 compared to 36 in 2023, reflecting a decline of 69.4%. The suicide rate stood at 0.5 per one lakh population.
Among the victims, eight were unmarried, two married and one separated. Cause-wise, five suicides were categorised as “causes not known,” three were linked to love affairs, one to family problems, and three to other causes.
Nationally, suicides marginally declined from 1,71,418 in 2023 to 1,70,746 in 2024, while the suicide rate stood at 12.2 per one lakh population.
The report noted that the data has been compiled and collated by the NCRB based on information furnished by State and Union Territory police departments.
While the NCRB has presented the data in report form, it stated that responsibility for the authenticity of the information rests with the respective States/UTs.
