A study on pattern of fatal injuries in road traffic accidents in costal belts of Orissa

Purpose of study: To find out the fatal injuries, survival times, correlation of injuries to different epidemiological parameters and to suggest steps on prevention basing on the findings. Cases of Road Accident Deaths sent to the Mortuary of S.C.B Medical College Cuttack for postmortem examination were studied.Out of 2394 PM Examinations conducted during the study period 21.67% (519) Were due to RTA.87.11% (452) were Males & 12.9% (67) were Females. Maximum no of cases (25.04%) were within the age group of 25 to 34 years (122 males & 8 females). Among different type of road users; Highest no of victims belonged to pedestrians group (28.6%) & 86.9% of them were males.Maximum no of female victims were Pillion Riders 45.8% (22 out of 48).257 victims (49.5%) died due to cranio cerebral injury which was the peak cause of Death. Trucks were found to be the major offending vehicle involved in 33.54% of incidences. Awareness among the Road users, development of safe roads and observation of traffic rules are the major suggestions for the prevention of accidents.