Over 77,000 Highway Accidents Reported in India in First Seven Months of 2026, Says Govt
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 28.4 km long six-laning of the existing Kozhikode Bypass (Image NHAI on X)
By KUMAR VIKRAM
More than 77,000 road accidents were reported on India’s national highways between January and July 2026, leaving over 32,700 people dead, according to a government report.
New Delhi, August 8, 2026 — More than 77,000 road accidents were reported on India’s national highways during the first seven months of 2026, resulting in 32,771 deaths and injuries to 89,560 drivers, according to Ministry of Union Road Transport and Highways.
The report by the ministry, as reported by Jansatta, states that 77,234 accidents occurred on national highways up to July 2026, underscoring the continuing challenge of road safety despite sustained efforts to improve highway infrastructure.
The data indicates that the human and economic cost of road crashes remains substantial. While India’s expanding highway network has improved connectivity, speeding, unsafe driving practices and increasing traffic volumes continue to contribute to a high number of fatal accidents.
According to the report, the trend is not new. In 2025, India recorded 1,43,526 road accidents on national highways, leading to 62,212 deaths and leaving 1,60,224 people injured.
The government data further shows that casualties on national highways have steadily increased over the past five years. In 2022, India recorded 1,51,997 highway accidents, in which 61,038 people lost their lives and 1,44,352 sustained injuries.
Young adults remain the most vulnerable
The report identifies people in the 25-35 age group as the most affected by road accidents.
Up to July 2026, 7,097 people aged between 25 and 35 years had died in highway crashes. Another 5,926 fatalities were reported among those aged 35 to 45 years, while 4,232 deaths occurred in the 45-60 age group.
Among younger victims, 1,570 people below the age of 18 lost their lives, while 4,690 fatalities were recorded in the 18-25 age group.
The data also notes that 289 victims could not be identified because their age could not be determined.
Southern and central states account for highest accident burden
According to the report, states recording the highest number of road accidents include Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Chhattisgarh.
These states continue to account for a significant share of highway crashes owing to high traffic density, expanding road networks and increasing vehicular movement.
Compensation claims pending
The report also highlights delays in compensation for accident victims. As of July 2026, 1,730 compensation claims filed under the government’s road accident and cashless treatment scheme were awaiting approval.
Out of 12,727 claims submitted up to July, 9,601 had been approved by state health authorities, while 7,871 claims had been settled by the Central government.
The report notes that approximately ₹10.1 crore has been disbursed as compensation so far, with the highest number of claims originating from Madhya Pradesh and Assam.
The findings reinforce the need for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, improved emergency medical response and greater public awareness to reduce fatalities on India’s highways, even as the country continues to invest heavily in expanding its road infrastructure.
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