Woman killed in Sanat Nagar hit-and-run accident

Srinagar, Sep 29: A 55-year-old woman was killed when she was hit by an unidentified vehicle at Sanat Nagar area here on the city outskirts.

This is the fourth fatal road accident reported in Srinagar since mid-September.

Officials identified the victim as Shar Banu, wife of Ansar Hussain Khan, originally from Jammu and currently residing at Khomani Chowk Bemina. The officials said that she sustained critical injuries in the hit-and-run accident. Locals and police shifted her to SMHS Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Her body was later handed over to the police for medico-legal formalities.

Police said, “We have taken cognisance of the incident, and an investigation is on”.

This incident follows a spate of deadly incidents that have shaken the city. On September 17, 13-year-old schoolgirl Madiha Farooq was killed and five others were injured after a speeding Eco van hit pedestrians at Jogi Lanker, Rainawari. The following day, a pedestrian couple, Fahmeeda and her husband, Bashir Ahmad, were fatally struck while crossing the road at Umerabad, HMT.

Residents said the repeated deaths highlight a deeper reckless driving, encroached footpaths, and inadequate safety measures. “There is no safety in place, and now the accountability is also gone. Most of the time, pedestrians are forced off pavements onto busy roads due to encroachment issues,” said Asif Hassan, a pedestrian in Downtown.

Senior police officials said Traffic police would intensify anti-speeding drives, but the locals demand that drastic measures be taken to save human lives. With four fatalities in two weeks, Srinagarites are renewing calls for stronger traffic regulation, safer crossings, and coordinated action by all agencies to stem Srinagar’s mounting road toll.