Doda Road Accident Raises Questions

Road accident in Thathri area of Doda has sent shock waves across Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. A Maruti Eeco bearing number JK06A 3089 fell into a gorge near Khanpur. The local people heard the loud noise and panic spread in the whole area. Amid cries local people informed the Police. It was  with the help of the Security Forces that the injured people were rescued from the site of the tragedy and rushed to Government Medical College(GMC).Five people were declared brought dead by the doctors. Another person passed while he was being given the emergency treatment. This fatal road accident has raised many questions that need to be addressed. In Jammu and Kashmir many lives are being lost on the national highways  due to accidents. These accidents are not restricted to the national highways only but are part of the normal roads in all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Over the years there has been considerable increase in the number of vehicles plying on the roads .But there is no proportionate   widening and expansion of roads. The vehicular movement on the roads is beyond the carrying capacity leading to fatal accidents. The Maruti Eeco that fell into the gorge at Doda was overloaded. For this both the driver and the passengers have to be held responsible. Traveling in a vehicle that is already beyond carrying capacity is surely a suicidal act. That too on the national highway. It is a daily scene that we witness the overloaded matadors and buses plying on the city roads or the buses that carry inter district passengers in Jammu and Kashmir. Both passengers and the bus drivers are violating the traffic rules and subjecting themselves  to grave danger. There is an urgent need to streamline the traffic management system in Jammu and Kashmir. This does not need only advisory and traffic rules but the implementation of the same in letter and spirit. Not only sensitisation programmes but the strict penalisation of the violators  who indulge in overloading and reckless driving. Another menace that is integral to the traffic rules violation is the playing of the loud sound systems by the bus and matador drivers subjecting the commuters to immense trouble. This noise pollution not only creates trouble for the passengers but also leads to road accidents. As the drivers often lose concentration and it leads to road accidents. Traffic Police must impose the rule of law and relieve the common people from this trouble. Another negligence that leads to road accidents and loss of human lives is the use of mobile phones by the people driving the vehicles. Jammu and Kashmir Administration must develop an efficient Traffic Management System that addresses these issues. Bus drivers, passengers and private vehicle owners all are responsible for the road accidents. Doda accident is another unfortunate tragedy that must concern us all and it must awaken all stakeholders. So that a comprehensive policy be designed by the administration. For this there is a need to invite suggestions from common people who are the worst victims of this traffic mis-management. Moreover, to board an overloaded vehicle in this era of technological boom and knowledge society is indeed a matter of concern. The more we are sensitised about the consequences of this irresponsible act, the more we indulge in the same act. There is an immediate need to subject the road traffic to strict regulations. Otherwise, we are bound to lose more lives. Even school buses must be strictly monitored. As it concerns the lives of innocent children. It is our collective responsibility to raise our voice for safe traveling in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir must eveole as the model for safe public transport management.