Father of road accident victim distributes helmets at condolence meet in MP

Setting an example by his act, the father of a man who had lost his life in a road accident, distributed helmets to youngsters at the condolence meet of his deceased son. The father did this in an order to spread the message of road safety and to ensure that no one else has to suffer a similar fate.

Damoh (Madhya Pradesh):Losing their 25-year-old son to a freak road accident was the worst blow for Damoh based Dixit family. Coping up with their grief was not easy.

However, in their trying times, the family showed their humanitarian side by setting an example from son's act, father of a man who had lost his life in a road accident, distributed helmets to youngsters at the condolence meet of his deceased son in an order to spread the message of road safety and to ensure that no one else has to suffer similar fate.

25-year-old Vibhanshu alias Lucky Dixit had succumbed to his injuries after meeting with an accident on November 20.

Lucky was riding his two-wheeler without a helmet when he crashed his bike owing to a stray animal sitting in the middle of the road.

His bike skidded as he lost his control resulting to sudden death as he suffered excessive head bleeding-- a result of not wearing a helmet.

In a heart-warming gesture, his father Mahendra Dixit distributed helmets to boys above 18 years who attended his son's condolence meet in Damoh on Tuesday.

Lucky, a teacher by profession got seriously injured after his bike met with an accident when he was returning to Tejgarh via Jhalon. As he was not wearing a helmet, he sustained injuries on head and later succumbed to it in the hospital.

"I do not want other parents to undergo the pain of losing their young child. My son died because he was not wearing a helmet. He suffered severe injuries. I decided to distribute helmets to youngsters above 18-year-old and to spread awareness regarding road safety and give a message that everyone should follow traffic rules for their own safety," Mahendra Dixit told ETV Bharat.

After completing the last rituals, the family decided to gift helmets to youngsters who are sans a helmet while on their bikes.

The father also appealed to other parents not to allow their children to move out of their houses on a two-wheeler without a helmet.

"The step is very thoughtful and appreciating. At a time when the family is unable to come out of the pain they are going through, they have decided to work to raise public awareness among youth regarding traffic rules and road safety. They do not want other children to face a similar fate," a relative of the family said.

Deceased's friend said that he will follow all the rules and never ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet.

"I would spread the message to others. We will try to ensure that loss of lives occurred due to avoiding safety precautions can be reduced", one of the deceased's friend said.

Damoh Collector Tarun Rathi also appreciated the gesture and said, "The government has been advising people to follow the traffic rules for their own safety. Several programmes are being held by the administration to spread awareness and reducing accidents."

Despite the traffic police intensifying their drive against those riding two-wheelers without wearing helmets, people and especially youths pay no heed to the risks.

In such a situation, Mahendra's act to give away helmets to people on the day of the final rites of his son gives a powerful message to society and raises awareness.