“Doda tragedy on July 15: overloaded vehicle fell into gorge, killing seven and injuring 15. It highlighted negligence—overloading, poor infrastructure, lack of barriers, and use of incomplete roads.”
The alarming rise in road accidents across Jammu and Kashmir is becoming a major public safety crisis, demanding immediate attention from both policymakers and enforcement agencies. In 2024 alone, nearly 5,000 road accidents were reported in the Union Territory, resulting in over 700 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries. These figures are not just numbers—they represent lives lost, families shattered, and a society grappling with trauma that could often have been prevented. The recent tragedy in Doda on July 15, where an overloaded passenger vehicle fell into a deep gorge, killing seven people and injuring 15 others, is a heartbreaking example of the situation on the ground. It exposed the multiple layers of negligence—overloading of vehicles, poor road infrastructure, lack of protective barriers, and premature use of incomplete roads. These are not isolated cases but part of a disturbing trend that is consistent across hilly districts of J&K, from Ramban and Kishtwar to Kupwara and Poonch. Several factors contribute to this grim reality. First and foremost is inadequate road infrastructure, especially in rural and mountainous regions. Roads constructed under schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) often lack critical safety features such as crash barriers, proper signage, and regular maintenance. Although these roads are vital for improving connectivity, their safety design is either outdated or poorly implemented. Another major concern is overloading and reckless driving. Many passenger vehicles, especially in far-flung areas, carry more people than legally permitted, often due to a shortage of public transport and lack of regular enforcement. Drivers are frequently untrained or negligent, and traffic laws are either ignored or enforced inconsistently. The pressure to accommodate passengers, combined with poor road conditions, becomes a lethal combination. Furthermore, the premature opening of roads before final clearances and safety checks adds to the risks. In many places, roads are thrown open for vehicular traffic soon after initial excavation or macadamisation—long before protective features like side walls or culverts are completed.
Rising road accident rates in Jammu and Kashmir highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive road safety policy, including stricter vehicle regulation, mandatory safety audits, real-time traffic monitoring, and public awareness campaigns. Increased funding for road construction must ensure crash barriers, slope stabilization, and protective fencing in high-risk zones. Connectivity should not endanger lives; developing safe roads is essential. Half-measures are unacceptable. A serious, coordinated action plan is needed to combat the road accident crisis in Jammu and Kashmir.
Local political pressures and administrative complacency often fuel this dangerous practice. What makes matters worse is the lack of an effective emergency response system. In remote areas, rescue operations are delayed due to the absence of trauma centres, limited availability of ambulances, and poor communication infrastructure. In such circumstances, even minor accidents can turn fatal due to delayed medical attention. The rising road accident rate in Jammu and Kashmir is a clear indicator of the urgent need for a comprehensive road safety policy. This must include stricter vehicle regulation, mandatory safety audits for road projects, real-time monitoring of traffic violations, and public awareness campaigns. Additionally, funds for road construction must be increased to include crash barriers, slope stabilization, and protective fencing as standard components—especially in high-risk zones. Connectivity should never come at the cost of human lives. As we develop roads to reach every corner of the region, we must also ensure they are safe for every journey. The time for half-measures is over. It is time for a serious, coordinated action plan to address the growing menace of road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir.
