“Improving road infrastructure must be a top priority. The hilly areas require roads with reinforced safety features such as strong guardrails, proper drainage to prevent landslides, and clearly marked signs indicating speed limits and blind curves. Regular audits of road conditions and immediate repair work are essential to prevent such tragedies”
Road accidents continue to cast a long, dark shadow over the lives of people in Jammu and Kashmir, where treacherous terrains, poor road infrastructure, and reckless driving contribute to an unrelenting cycle of tragedy. The latest incident near Kota in Dhargloon area of Mendhar in Poonch district on Thursday serves as a grim reminder of this ongoing crisis. In this mishap, at least nine people, including seven women, were injured when a Tata Sumo vehicle (JK03C-5203) lost control and rolled 100 meters down into a gorge. The victims were rushed to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Mendhar for treatment, while the police have taken cognizance of the matter. This incident is not isolated—it is part of a disturbing pattern that repeats itself far too often across the hilly regions of Jammu and Kashmir. Whether it’s Poonch, Doda, Ramban, or Kishtwar, accidents involving passenger vehicles plunging into gorges are reported with alarming frequency. The reasons are manifold: narrow, winding roads with inadequate safety barriers; overloaded or poorly maintained vehicles; lack of traffic enforcement; and insufficient driver training, especially for routes that demand both skill and caution. The most heartbreaking aspect is that these accidents are largely preventable. The question that arises is: how many more lives must be lost or permanently altered before road safety is treated as a public emergency in the region? While government departments routinely issue statements of concern and promise inquiries, the translation of those words into effective and sustained action remains elusive. Improving road infrastructure must be a top priority.
“There is an urgent need for a comprehensive road safety policy tailored to the region’s unique topographical and demographic challenges. Only then can we hope to turn the tide on this preventable menace.”
The hilly areas require roads with reinforced safety features such as strong guardrails, proper drainage to prevent landslides, and clearly marked signs indicating speed limits and blind curves. Regular audits of road conditions and immediate repair work are essential to prevent such tragedies. Equally important is the regulation of commercial passenger vehicles. Routine fitness checks must be strictly enforced to ensure that vehicles plying in these difficult terrains are in good working condition. Licensing systems also need to be tightened to ensure that only trained and experienced drivers are allowed to operate in such high-risk zones. Additionally, community awareness programs and localized traffic enforcement strategies can play a crucial role. Panchayats, school authorities, and local leaders must collaborate with the administration to educate people about road safety practices. Installing emergency response systems such as GPS-based tracking and quick-response medical teams in accident-prone areas could also make a significant difference in saving lives. The accident near Dhargloon should not be just another statistic in the growing list of road tragedies in Jammu and Kashmir. It should be a wake-up call. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive road safety policy tailored to the region’s unique topographical and demographic challenges. Only then can we hope to turn the tide on this preventable menace.
