NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday sought detailed reports from the state governments of Rajasthan and Telangana, as well as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in the suo motu case concerning two deadly highway accidents that claimed nearly 40 lives last week.

A Bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi, hearing the matter titled “In Re: Phalodi Accident”, directed authorities to conduct a comprehensive survey of the two highways where the incidents occurred and file their reports within two weeks.

Taking note of media reports that highlighted “poor road conditions” of the Bharatmala stretch near Rajasthan’s Phalodi and the Telangana–Bijapur highway, the apex court said the reasons behind the accidents were “explicitly indicated” in news items and required immediate steps.

“The road conditions are not good though tolls are being charged, ” the Justice Maheshwari-led Bench observed, adding that several dhabas had come up “on areas not notified for such facilities”.