Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Nov 15 (KNS): The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir finds itself in the throes of an ongoing crisis marked by a persistent surge in fatal road accidents, claiming the lives of hundreds over several decades.
In the latest tragic incident on Wednesday, a bus accident resulted in the loss of at least 36 lives and left 19 others injured, as the vehicle skidded off the road and tumbled down a 300-foot gorge in Doda district.
The frequent occurrence of such accidents, particularly on high-altitude routes, has raised alarm among residents.
Many believe urgent government attention is imperative to address the hazardous condition of these roads, which has become a major contributor to fatalities.
Mohammad Altaf, a resident of Kishtwar, stressed the necessity for road improvements, stating, “Scores of people die due to road accidents in Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Doda every winter. In many spots, the roads are narrow and need to be widened. Similarly, fencing and macadamization are also required in higher reaches so that such incidents can be prevented,” he told KNS.
He added, “The lack of vigilance leads to reckless driving on these treacherous roads, and passengers have no choice but to travel, despite being fully aware of the dangers, as their work commitments necessitate daily commuting.”
Experts suggest a myriad of factors contributing to the surge in accidents.
Waseem Ahmad, a senior citizen in Srinagar, highlighted that only a few erring drivers are brought to justice in most road accident cases, with many cases, particularly those on highways, closed as 'not traced.'
Insiders from the transport department revealed that in the past, a major factor contributing to reckless driving was the ease with which licenses could be obtained. “Licenses were issued to even minors and untrained drivers without mandatory driving tests. However, the system has since been overhauled to ensure transparency, and licenses are now issued only after fulfilling all formalities, including the mandatory driving test” said one of the officials of the transport department.
Jammu and Kashmir topped the list of "high accidental death-prone areas" in a National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) survey conducted in 2013, with an accident in the state having a 64 percent chance of causing death, as opposed to 36.4 percent for all of India.
A concerned social activist stressed the need for immediate action, saying, “This is a public health emergency that requires immediate action. We are slowly waking up to the fact that we lead in road crash deaths and injuries.
Unfortunately, we are at a primitive stage of resolving this issue. To defeat this growing menace of road traffic accidents, there is an immediate need to take determined action today, ” he told KNS.
Sources indicate that the LG administration has instructed traffic police to increase patrolling on national highways.
There is a focus on standard rules for vehicle drivers in mountainous regions to ensure road safety.
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways conducted research on the reasons for increasing road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir, observing that the lack of education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency measures are the main reasons for the growing accidents.
Local media reports reveal a staggering 76,942 road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir between 2010 and 2022, resulting in 12,429 fatalities and 1,04,983 injuries, underscoring the alarming frequency of accidents in the union territory.
Traffic department data indicates a concerning upward trend in accidents, with over 12,000 deaths and 8,748 injuries on average each year in the last 12 years. Inter-district routes in hilly areas remain perilous, with dangerous conditions contributing to daily accidents.
Despite efforts to address the issue, the number of accidents has shown an upward trend, reaching 805 in 2022.
Concerned over the high rate of casualties, the Lieutenant Governor-led administration has directed authorities to review the causes of recurring fatal accidents and take stern action against traffic violators.
A senior official from the government emphasized that effective intervention from the police and the regional transport office is crucial to reducing the number of accidents.(KNS)