Roads becoming death traps 5060 people killed on roads in past four years in J&K

Roads becoming death traps
5060 people killed on roads in past four years in J&K
Nitesh Sangral
JAMMU, June 10: At least 5060 people were killed and 40497 others wounded in 28841 mishaps across Jammu and Kashmir State in five years between 2006 and 2010, according to the government data. As per the report, a total of 28841 mishaps have taken place between 2006 and 2010 in the State, in which 5060 people lost their lives, and 40497 were injured. 2759 mishaps have taken place in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban district in which 978 people were killed and 4048 others wounded between 2006 and 2010. The report maintains that the roads in Jammu and Kashmir lack road safety measures and proper maintenance besides being substandard thereby rendering them prone to accidents. “For the want of sufficient transport in rural areas, overloading has become a common phenomenon and in case of accidents the damage is colossal.” Official source said that about the action against the traffic police officials, the report says as many as seven cases have been initiated against seven officers deployed on Batote-Kishtwar road. Censure has been awarded to two officers whereas three officers were exonerated of the charges, the report discloses, adding that in most of the cases rash and negligent driving has been found to be the cause of mishaps. “Accidents have become a major challenge for the administration, but it itself is responsible for failure to stop them in absence of any major policy. Most of the measures announced by the government have remained on papers only”, he added. He further said that concerning the registration of cases that 31 cases stands registered by the traffic police in various police stations against defaulters for overloading or over speeding. Eight licenses of drivers were cancelled, 329 re-fitness checks of vehicles conducted, 243 re-driving test of drivers conducted, 4 D/Ls were cancelled. “The reports also points out other reasons including poor quality of roads, bad road geometry, lack of identification of black spots or sites, shortage of passenger vehicles, which encourages overloading of passengers leading to fatalities in the event of accidents”