Ongoing work of Telephone Cables Project claims one life

Putting thousands lives at stake daily

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Mar 29: Despite the order of District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ramban to ban the of National Highway roadside from Banihal to Batote for installation of underground telephone cables, the concern department has overhear it due to which many people have lost their lives from the past four months.

In the recent incident a Mahindra load carrier which is without registration number being rashly, negligently driven with high speed from Jammu to Srinagar when it hit three labourers being engaged in laying of telephone cable on roadside, near CRPF camp Bhoom Chanderkote this morning resulting two critically injured persons whereas one received minor injuries.

 

The two critically injured persons identified as Mohammad Bashir son of Abdullah Gujjar and Hashim Din son of Faqira both resident of Gujjrara, Paristan of tehsil Ukhral district Ramban who were ref erred to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital Srinagar after giving first aid at District Hospital (DH) Ramban while third injured person who shifted to DH Ramban for treatment identified as Mohammad Qasim son of Ahamadin resident of Gujjrara, Paristan of tehsil Ukhral district Ramban.

 

Lateron, one injured namely Mohammad Bashir succumbed to his injuries on the way to Srinagar.

After hitting the labourers the driver along with his vehicle fled from spot who was chased with the help of locals and arrested. The driver identified as Rajinder Pradhan son of Inder Pradhan resident of Sagraguan district Khurda Orissaa at present sector 3 Channi Himmat Jammu. A case under FIR No. 18/2016 u/s 279/ 337 at police station Chanderkote stands registered.

But this is not the single case, but many labourers have become permanently handicapped while many other lost their life due to the accident besides various accidents occurred due to the roadside digging in this stretch of national highway, but the concern authorities becoming the mute spectators.

When contacted DDC Ramban, Bashir Ahmed Dar said “I have asked the concern tehsildar to take action against the contractors who are concerned in digging of roadside for laying of telephone cables, but later in came to know that National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has granted the permission for the said work.

He further said that the administration can only take action against them if they violate the norms of contract.