1300 dead in road accidents in J&K during past 15 months

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Oct 25: Nearly 1300 people have died in various road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir during past 15-months while nearly 10,000 people have received injured in such incidents in the state.


As per the data collected by a NGO, number of such deaths have increased in the state during past few years, mainly due to increased in the number of vehicles and poor road network.


Death and Injuries due to road accidents are more than terrorism related deaths in state.


More than 50,000 vehicles are being added to the vehicle population annually in the twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar.


Due to the floating of traffic rules included polluting vehicles, tinted film glasses, bull bars, over speeding, lack of safety measures on national highways and other roads, pressure horns, overloading of public transport vehicles, plying of vehicles without number plates etc.


Sources said that due to rapidly increase in vehicles without proportionate increase in the road length and infrastructure the traffic congestion and even accidents happened.


As per the information, Jammu has 574 vehicles per kilometer traffic density, while vehicular population in Jammu city stood at 4, 04,400 excluding vehicles belonging to security forces and tourists entering the city.


The road length in Jammu city is 702.22 kms. The density of vehicles in Jammu city is 574 vehicles per kilometer" as per a document while referring to traffic congestion in the city.


Sources further said that every tenth bed in the hospital in the world is occupied by an accident victim.


Important to note that Jammu and Kashmir roads witnessed about seventeen accidents and claimed at least three lives every day during the 2010, according to the official figures of the state transport department.


Official records revealed that at least 1080 persons were killed in 6129 road accidents across the state in 2010. Jammu region leads the accident tally with 4303 incidents, claiming the lives of 777 persons while in Kashmir valley 1826 accidents were registered in which 303 persons lost their lives.


As per the last years data, as far as Udhampur district is concerned, 481 road accidents occurred last year, claiming the lives of 85 persons, in Reasi 38 people killed in 169 accidents while in Doda district 226 accidents were recorded last year in which 50 persons were killed. In Kishtwar district, 82 road accidents took place and 55 persons were killed while hilly Ramban district witnessed the death of 94 persons in 349 accidents.


In border district of Poonch, 173 road accidents were taken place last year and 23 deaths were reported while in Rajouri the figure of road mishaps was 364 in which 51 persons lost their lives.


Government data says that about 7, 96,493 vehicles were registered in Jammu and Kashmir till December 2010. Among the vehicles 10310 busses, 15348 mini-busses, 48983, trucks, trailers, 24729 taxies, 39, 294, three wheelers, 187170 cars, 11749 jeeps, 424768 two wheelers and others types of vehicles include 34142. As per the rules, route permits in Jammu and Kashmir are issued only to commercial vehicles that carry a certificate valid for one year from the manufacturer certifying the requirements of safety and pollution norms.