*21-year-old youth run down by a speeding cab on ,HMT NH44 : Civil society aghast over inaction by authorities ……
Srinagar, Nov 30 A 21-year-old youth -lost his life after a collision between a motorcycle and a vehicle on NH44 near Iqbal Abad , Zainakote, on the outskirts of Srinagar on Sunday morning, officials said.
An official told the news agency that the accident occurred when a motorcycle collided with a Tavera vehicle on NH 44 near Gurdwara in HMT area.
The injured rider was immediately shifted to hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. He has been identified as Faiq (21), son of Muzaffar Ahmad of Umerabd Zainakote .
He said that police have taken cognisance of the incident.
Meanwhile, welfare committee Srinagar North, an apex body of civil society groups representing Newly come up habitations on both sides of NH 44 from shalteng to Hokersar has taken strong exception of the authorities in preventing the repeated vehicular accidents in this 5 km patch of NH44. In past 2 years about 20 person have lost there lives in vehiclular accidents in this area since both sides of the NH44 in this area area populated and business houses have come up all along the highway, unregulated and speedy traffic is taking its toll
The Civil society group in a statement has said that the PHE water pipes are leaking at many places on the NH44 which have made the road slippery. When contacted the water works authorities have started that they are unable to plug the leaks on the highway as the department which is responsible for maintaining the road has not allowed them to dug the road which is required for plugging of the leaks . If the issue is not tackled on priority, they have apprehension that due to freezing temperature in winter , the leakage will turn into ice coating of the road and vehicles will skid off.
The civil society has welcomed the recent initiative of Divisional Administration for streamlining of traffic in Srinagar city. They have appealed to Div Com kashmir to sanction a round about near police station Shalteng on NH44 , near Hokersar game reserve, besides Zebra – crossings and other steps for traffic regulation, so that vehicular accidents in the area can be prevented.
The civil society has also requested jenab Agha syed Ruhullah, the Hon’able Member Parliament, Srinagar to take up the issue of construction of an under pass or overhead bridge, whichever feasible, so that the population living on both sides of the NH44 in shalteng.. Hokersar are able to cross the road without a risk of accident.
