Akhnoor road accident

There is no end to loss of precious human lives in road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir. These  mishaps keep on occurring in different parts, claiming lives. Sometimes the major accidents take a heavy toll. Some days back 29 pilgrims, mainly from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan who were on way to Shivkhori shrine in Reasi district, were killed and 69 others injured in a road accident near Tanda in Akhnoor of Jammu district.

The mishap occurred when a bus, carrying the pilgrims, fell into a gorge. The dead included eight women and six children. The government ordered a magisterial probe into the cause of the tragic accident. Six officials of transport department were also placed under suspension for dereliction of duty and inquiry ordered to investigate charges of dereliction of duty by them.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed their grief and shock over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the bereaved families. There is an immediate need to prevent these road accidents. Otherwise, the people will keep on losing lives or getting injured in the mishaps.

The officials of the concerned departments must play their role effectively to help in  preventing the occurrence of such incidents. There is no scope for any complacency at any level. Most road accidents occur due to violation of traffic rules by the drivers or bad condition of roads. Over speeding, overloading, driving on wrong side, and overtaking other vehicles wrongly are some of the causes of the mishaps.

Last year 39 persons were killed and 17 others injured when a passenger bus met with an accident at Trungal in Assar of Doda district. Reports of major and minor accidents keep on pouring in from different areas from time to time.

These mishaps can be prevented if the traffic rules are strictly followed by the drivers and concerned officials enforcing rules on the roads. Secondly, the condition of roads particularly in accident prone areas must be made better.

Large number of  roads are in a dilapidated condition. The repair work must be done on priority basis. Minimising, or completely preventing such accidents is a target that has to be achieved to save the lives.