Sir,
This has reference to the news item ‘4 Bank officials killed in Highway Tragedy’ DE Feb 14, 2017.
The tragic road accident in which four employees of J&K Bank were killed once again underscores the fact that our roads are not safe for travelling. The Jammu-Pathankot National Highway has turned into a killer road with fatal accidents taking place at an alarming rate on it. The people of Kathua have raised this issue time and again but no one pays attention to it.
The recurring accidents shows the cumulative indifference of the authorities, drivers and common people. The authorities fail to punish the drivers who flout traffic rules with impunity. An accident a day is just ‘normal’ for these authorities.
The bad condition of roads is also responsible for the present situation. The National Highway is riddled with ‘pot-holes all along its length, and these need to be filled on priority basis, rather the whole road needs to be maintained on regular basis.
Unless road awareness sinks in people’s consciousness, tragic road would continue to occur.
Yours etc…
Amit Kumar
Channi Himmat
Jammu