Pir Panjal: The Accident Area

Rajouri, Nov 21: The PirPanjal region comprising Rajouri and Poonch districts has witnessed several fatal accidents in the past few years with people of the area expressing concern over the loss of lives on the roads and calling for an effective accident prevention strategy.

Rajouri and Poonch districts are already considered sensitive in terms of accidents due to tough hilly roads, slippery conditions on roads in upper reaches, and poor condition of roads.

In the last few years, the region has witnessed several road accidents claiming dozens of lives and injuries to score others with vehicles of all natures including light and heavy passenger vehicles, light and heavy goods carriers as well as two-wheelers involved in these accidents.

According to the official data, many major road accidents occurred in the last few years.

These included the mini-bus accident at QilaDarhal in Nowshera on March 28, 2022, in which one person lost his life and forty-six others were injured.

Six persons lost their lives while four others were injured at MurrahBufliaz in Poonch on March 31, 2022.

Eleven persons lost their lives while 27 were injured in a mini-bus accident at BrariNallah in Poonch on September 14, 2022.

Four persons lost their lives while 26 others were injured in an accident at DehriRalyote in Manjakote after a bus fell in a gorge at DehriRalyote in Manjakote.

Four persons died while seven others were injured in an accident at Bhangai in Thanamandi on July 5, 2023.

Three members of a family including a senior officer died and one person was injured in a car accident near Panar Bridge on the Mughal Road on July 9, 2023.

Three persons lost their lives and 16 were injured in an accident at PharwalaRajouri on November 6, 2023.

Two persons died and five were injured after a cab fell in a gorge on the Thanamandi-Shahdara road four days ago.

Meanwhile, the people of the region expressed concern about the accidents terming the loss of lives on the roads as a serious concern.

“This is quite unfortunate and needs serious introspection,” said socio-political activist Tazeem Dar.

He said the loss of so many lives in road accidents should be checked.

Dar said that all law enforcement agencies should ensure that effective strategy is implemented to prevent accidents on roads.

Advocate Zaffar Ahmad said that speed limitations on hilly and small roads should be the priority as overspeeding on such roads becomes the main reason for accidents.

Deputy SP Traffic RajouriPoonch Range, Muhammad Nawaz said that road accidents were a concern for the entire society and the department was taking all possible measures to do whatever possible on accident prevention steps.

He said that the main role of Traffic Police on this front was action against violation which became a reason for accidents and a massive drive had been launched against this and action was being taken.

Nawaz said that vigilant society plays a vital role in it and people should first stop violating traffic norms on their own followed by intercepting other violators and asking them to stop violations.