Rise in mishaps in Doda-Kishtwar belt
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 8: Despite being aware of the reasons, the administration is finding it difficult to prevent fatal road accidents particularly in hilly areas of Jammu region as during the past three years there is continuous rise in mishaps leading to loss of precious lives.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that various official reports on accidents on Batote-Doda-Kishtwar section and Mughal Road stretch suggest various reasons for the fatal road accidents. Some of these reasons are hilly terrain, over-speeding by the drivers, plying of outdated and unfit vehicles, overloading by passenger vehicles, driving under alcoholic condition, rash and negligent driving, unauthorized drivers, use of mobile phones while driving and mechanical failure.
“Sometimes the developed roads also become reason for accident as the driver becomes over confident and loses control over the vehicle leading to fatal accident”, they further said, adding “no doubt in the official circles it is claimed by the concerned agencies that remedial measures are being taken but the official figures clearly reveal that all these measures have failed to prevent the accidents”.
This can be gauged from the official data, which reveals that in Doda district, a total of 198 accidents (fatal as well as non-fatal) took place in the year 2020 leading to death of 36 persons and injuries to 227 persons.
The number of accidents increased to 209 in 2021 when 66 people lost lives and 246 sustained injuries. In 2022, the number of accidents further increased to 215 leading to death of 45 persons and injuries to 284 passengers.
Similarly, in Kishtwar district, a total of 67 accidents took place in 2020 leading to loss of 28 lives and injuries to 97 persons while as in 2021 the number of accidents increased to 91 in which 25 previous lives were lost and 132 passengers sustained injuries. In 2022, the number of accidents increased to 103 in which 36 persons lost their lives and 135 others sustained injuries.
As far as Poonch district is concerned, a total of 39 accidents took place in 2020 leading to loss of 21 lives and injuries to 98 persons. This number increased to 46 in 2021 when 30 persons lost lives and 108 sustained injuries. However, only 20 accidents took place in 2022 in which 14 persons were killed and 49 sustained injuries.
“Despite rise in the accidents, the administration is claiming that data base of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways reveals that comparative deaths, grievous injuries, major accidents and non-injury accidents are less in Jammu and Kashmir as compared to other States”, sources said, adding “this is, however, not a ground to counter the inaction to prevent increasing road accidents”.
As per the official data, during 2020-21 financial year, audit of 126 roads was conducted, crash barriers were installed along 60,638 meters of road length, parapets installed along 70,778 meters, 10,968 signages and 5100 delineators were installed and 129 black spots were addressed.
Similarly, 175 roads were audited during 2022-23 financial year up to December 2022 while as crash barriers were installed along 109092 meters, parapets installed along 17895 meters of road length, 11637 signages and 7569 delineators were installed and 60 black spots were addressed.
“No doubt this is significant achievement on the part of the concerned authorities but despite all this way accidents are on rise particularly in Doda-Kishtwar belt and this remains a million dollar question”, sources said, adding “all the concerned agencies are required to sit together and try to chalk out the strategy so that fatal accidents are prevented, which is ultimately the objective behind huge expenditure being made by the administration”.
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