SRINAGAR, NOV 15: Expressing deep concern over the persistently high casualties resulting from frequent road accidents in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has directed authorities to conduct a thorough review of the causes behind recurring fatal incidents and take stern action against traffic violators.
The latest tragic incident occurred on Wednesday, where a bus accident claimed the lives of at least 36 individuals and left 19 others injured.
The bus skidded off the road, tumbling down a 300-foot gorge in Doda district.
Sources reveal that traffic police have been instructed to intensify patrolling on national highways, particularly in the hilly areas of the Union Territory.
A senior government official emphasized that effective intervention from the police and the regional transport offices is crucial for reducing the number of accidents.
Highlighting the alarming proportions of road accidents, especially on the National Highway and other roads in Jammu, the official quoted the LG administration’s emphasis on the need for drivers to follow standard rules for road safety in mountainous regions.
The graph of road accidents reveals that the majority of incidents occur due to driver negligence, prompting transport authorities to focus on addressing the root causes of driver-related accidents.
The recurring accidents, especially on high-altitude routes, have raised concerns among residents, prompting calls for urgent government attention to improve the hazardous condition of these roads.
Jammu and Kashmir had previously topped the list of “high accidental death-prone areas” in a 2013 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) survey, indicating a 64 percent chance of death in accidents in the state compared to 36.4 percent for all of India.
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways conducted research on the reasons behind the increasing road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir, attributing the trend to the lack of education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency measures.
