Herat Sees a Surge in Traffic Accidents: 13,000 Injured, 200 Dead

Officials at Herat Regional Hospital report that around 13,000 people have been injured and nearly 200 have lost their lives in traffic accidents in the province this year.

According to them, most of the victims are young motorcyclists.

Farhad Afzali, chief physician at Herat Regional Hospital, stated: “The number of traffic accidents has recently increased. Every day, 40 to 50 injured individuals from road accidents are brought to the hospital for treatment.”

Arsalan, one of the victims of a traffic accident in western Herat, is currently receiving treatment at Herat Regional Hospital. After colliding with a motorcycle, he suffered a severe head injury and underwent neurosurgery.

Arsalan, injured in the accident, said: “I was crossing the road when a motorcycle hit me. My head struck a gas cylinder, and I fell to the ground. My father and grandfather brought me to the hospital.”

According to doctors, many victims of traffic accidents suffer permanent disabilities, while others endure long-term consequences of their injuries.

Abdul Ghafoor, another accident victim, stated: “A person injured in a traffic accident cannot fully recover, even with 500,000 Afghanis, and even if treated, they will never be the same again. The main cause of these accidents is people’s recklessness. Almost everyone admitted to the neurology ward has suffered injuries from traffic accidents.”

Sibghatullah, a witness to an accident, said: “Our car slowed down at a speed bump, but a 580 passenger bus crashed into us from behind. One person died, and 15 others were injured.”

Abdullah, a resident of Herat, said: “Traffic accidents happen due to carelessness, especially because young people do not follow traffic laws, leading to more collisions.”

Reckless driving and failure to obey traffic laws have been identified as the leading causes of fatal road accidents in Herat.