Div Com reviews safety measures at Doda accident site

Doda, Nov 16: Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar Thursday visited the accident site at Assar in Doda to take first-hand evaluation of the road condition.
Thirty nine people died and 17 others sustained injuries in the tragic mishap on Wednesday.
Div Com directed the Executive Engineer PWD to identify and compile a list of black spots along the Highway and other roads in the district. To enhance the road safety, he instructed concerned officers to raise the crash barrier height and install signages and mirrors to improve visibility and awareness on the roads.

Kumar conducted thorough assessment and discussed immediate safety measures to prevent such mishaps in the future.
After comprehensive assessment and discussion with the experts, he asked the stakeholder departments to take every possible step to ensure the safety of commuters and prevent future mishaps on the roads of Doda.

Later speaking to media persons, he stated that a committee was constituted to probe into the incident. He also assured strict action against the traffic violations.
It was stated that choppers were kept on standby to airlift the injured to outside J&K including Delhi, if needed.
Div Com was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Doda Harvinder Singh, DIG DKR Dr Sunil Gupta, DIG Traffic Jammu, Sridhar Patil, Transport Commissioner Jammu, Chief Engineer PWD, SSP Doda, SSP Traffic,
Executive Engineers and other officials.

Later, the Divisional Commissioner visited Government Medical College & Hospital Doda and inquired about the condition of those injured in the accident.
Senior doctors apprised him about the health status of injured and medical procedures being followed. The Div Com directed the district administration to appoint a nodal officer for coordination and to take care of the injured at Associated Hospital GMC Doda. It was informed that 15 injured were admitted to GMC Doda for treatment and all were stable.

He directed the hospital administration to provide best possible medical care and assistance to injured persons for their speedy recovery.
Later, Ramesh Kumar chaired the Road Safety Committee meeting in the Conference Hall of the DC office complex to assess the cause and discuss future Safety measures to minimize such fatal road accidents.

Instructions were passed to post a senior doctor and paramedic in the CHC Assar and station a critical care or Advanced Life Support Ambulance between Assar and Khellani to strengthen the rescue and response system to attend to the emergency situations and to minimise the loss of life.
He asked ARTO to take strict action against the defaulters and habitual traffic rule violators, besides increasing the roadside checking of vehicles and drivers.

The PWD, PMGSY, and NHIDCL authorities were directed to install proper crash barriers, signages, speed limit monitors, and other safety equipment along all the black spots for the safety and awareness of the commuters.

The Divisional Commissioner further asked for strengthening control rooms, Inter-District coordination and health care infrastructure in the erstwhile district Doda. He asked to have an updated and active blood donors group, disaster response teams and local rescue volunteers. He impressed upon the district authority to arrange for advance training of Civil Defence volunteers, and general public for immediate rescue response when required. He emphasized immediate audit of the causes of accidents and casualties by the designated officers drawn from Civil, Police, MVD, Health, and Traffic department.