Another tragic road accident happened recently on Jammu-Srinagar NH-1 took a heavy toll of precious lives, 17 dead and 34 injured, some critically. Is human life so cheap in this State that it should get wasted in such ghastly road accidents, which could be averted provided we had efficient and responsible officials at the helm of affairs? It is umpteen times that we have been raking up this issue in these columns, each time stressing upon the administration to streamline Traffic Police Department, Transport and make them responsive to the duty assigned to it. When we analyze each road accident along the highway, we come to the conclusion that strict enforcement of rules by traffic police could have averted the tragic accidents and saved precious lives. Why it is not happening, is the question. No less a person than the Governor of the State, while expressing deep sorrow on the loss of precious lives, has noted that the authorities are not enforcing the rules strictly and with a sense of responsibility. It is clear that the Governor has found some serious lacunae in the implementation of traffic rules and he wonders why this is not changing.
A few observations can be made on the basis of information that has trickled down in the media in regard to the tragic accident. It is reported that traffic police is withdrawn after 8 PM and as such no control can be there on night traffic. If this is the situation, and knowing that the hilly road is not without dangers at some sensitive places, why does the Traffic Department allow plying of buses on this highway at night? Obviously, the bus owners want to break the rules, do overloading, avoid road tolls if any and, therefore, plying the buses at night. There is nothing in place to check whether the vehicle is road-worthy, or the driver is not drunk, does not overload, does not go beyond speed limit and so many other things. As he is driving at night, he is as free as a skylark to do anything he likes. Does it mean that the administration functions only up to 8 PM and, thereafter, there no law prevails?
The second sordid aspect that has come to light from this tragic accident is that the police officials are not fully briefed about the scope of its duty. From the statements of some of the traffic policemen one gathers the impression that they believe their primary duty is of maintaining law and order in the state. It is none of the duty of the men in khaki to check whether the bus is over-loaded or not, or whether the driver is drunken or not, and many other things. Actually, there appears lack of cohesion between the police and traffic police organizations. There is hardly a month when some minor or major road accident are not happening taking the toll of precious lives. It has been happening since a long time. Yet there is no visible proof of the officials introducing any methods and devices that would make journey safer than what it is today. Road accidents on the vital National Highway is highly damaging to tourist industry in Kashmir. It discourages tourists from coming to Kashmir since most of them would like to travel by bus this long and hazardous journey. We know that the Government has been calling the meetings of experts to discuss the question of safe road journey over the hilly tracts. Suggestions pour in and most of these are very sensible. But the taste of pudding is in eating. If suggestions remain confined to the files and are not translated into practice, it is waste of time and energy. How many officials of traffic, transport have been brought to book so far in connection with scores of accidents that have happened in the State in past few years? How can anybody expect the traffic department to be delivering when there is no change whatsoever on the ground.
It is common knowledge that Traffic Department is considered one of the most corrupt organizations of the State. Drivers and owners of vehicles are hell bent on violating the prescribed traffic rules be these about overloading, passing the vehicles, genuineness of the driver and the conductor along with their valid driving licenses etc. Even physical test of a driver to be arranged at random is also suggested by some observers. In short the Government is totally in chaos in regard to sensitizing the traffic department to its duties and responsibilities.
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