Early Times Report
Jammu, May 31: Following a devastating road accident near the Akhnoor sub-division in Jammu district, which claimed the lives of 22 pilgrims, the Union Territory administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
In the past two years, the administration has ordered three inquiries in response to repeated road accidents across different areas of Jammu province. However, the recommendations from these panels have yet to be implemented, and fatalities on the roads continue unabated in the region.
As previously reported, an overloaded bus carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh to the Shiv Khori cave shrine in Reasi district plunged into a deep gorge in the Akhnoor area on Thursday. This tragic accident resulted in 22 deaths and 57 injuries. Reports indicate that nine people died instantly, eight bodies were later recovered from beneath the bus using Army cranes, and five others succumbed to their injuries en route to Sub District Hospital, Akhnoor.
The ill-fated bus, registered as UP8CT/4058, originated from Hathras (Aligarh) in Uttar Pradesh and was headed to the Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi district. After visiting Shiv Khori, the pilgrims were scheduled to travel to Katra Mata Vaishnodevi. The bus was carrying approximately 90 passengers, including children.
In response to the accident, District Magistrate Jammu Sachin Kumar Vaishya announced a magisterial inquiry, with ADM Jammu tasked to submit a report within seven days. The district administration is closely monitoring the treatment of the injured and coordinating with authorities in Hathras and Aligarh, the passengers' hometowns.
After one of the deadliest road accidents in Jammu province, the administration established a three-member panel in November 2023 to investigate the circumstances leading to the incident that resulted in 39 deaths and numerous injuries.
The Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, emphasized the need to investigate t In the past two years, the administration has ordered three inquiries in response to repeated road accidents across different areas of Jammu province.
The recommendations from these panels are yet to be implemented, and fatalities on the roads continue unabated in the region.
In February 2023, a high-powered, four-member committee was formed to propose measures for preventing accidents on the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road.
On December 20, 2022, the J&K and Ladakh High Court directed the UT Govt to form an expert committee to investigate frequent accidents on the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar Road and recommend preventive measures.
The appointed committee comprised Ravi Kumar Bharti (ADM, Doda), the Superintending Engineer (PWD, Doda), and the ARTO (Doda). They were instructed to submit a detailed report within a week.
In February 2023, a high-powered, four-member committee was formed to propose measures for preventing accidents on the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road.
This followed a directive from the High Court. The committee, chaired by the Chief Engineer (Secretary Technical, Public Works (R&B) Department), included the Secretary of the Road Safety Council, the Executive Director (P) NHIDCL, Jammu Office, and the Superintending Engineer PW(R&B) Circle Doda, along with the Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Rural, Jammu.
On December 20, 2022, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court directed the UT Government to form an expert committee to investigate frequent accidents on the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar Road in the Chenab Valley and recommend preventive measures. The court also ordered the installation of rolling barriers or steel pillars on curved roads and near culverts, and required an Action Taken Report (ATR) by the next hearing.
On December 17, 2022, social activist Asif Iqbal Butt from Kahara in Doda district urged the Chief Justice of the J&K and Ladakh High Court to take suo-moto cognizance of the increasing road accidents in the Chenab Valley's hilly terrain. Butt highlighted the need for rolling barriers on narrow, blind-curved roads and called for robust road infrastructure, strict compliance with traffic rules, and the implementation of road safety recommendations.
The roads in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Chenab region encompassing the Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts, have become perilous. According to the Union Ministry of Road, Transport, and Highways, Jammu and Kashmir rank second in India for road accidents per 10,000 vehicles, with an average of over 900 deaths annually over the past five years. |
