New Delhi, July 24 -- National highways continue to claim more than 50,000 lives annually, with 147 people dying daily on average in the first half of 2025, Parliament was told on Wednesday. Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari presented the grim statistics while responding to questions from opposition MPs. The minister revealed that 26,770 people have died on national highways between January and June this year, according to data from the electronic detailed accident report (eDAR) portal. The figures underscore the persistent challenge of road safety despite government initiatives. In 2024, national highways recorded 52,609 fatalities, marginally down from 53,372 deaths in 2023. The numbers could rise as states and unio...