Hafta Chal Raha Hai Kya?; What the Traffic Police and Transport Department doing in Rajouri-Poonch District, when deadly road accidents claiming lives on every day.
Yet in another road in Manjakote Rajouri, a day after 11 people lost their lives in Sawajain in Poonch district, at least five people lost their lives, as the dance of death continues in twin district Rajouri-Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir.
Yesterday, in a road accident in Sawjian area of Poonch district, 11 precious lives were claimed, when the bus they were travelling in plunged into deep gorge. Now another accident in the Pir Panjal region occurred. Never knew to the passengers who were on board that they would leave this materialistic world while undertake the Journey in this I’ll fated vehicle.
Several questions arise now given the tragic accident as whether the I’ll fated vehicle was overloaded carrying much passengers’ then its capacity that resulted in the occurrence of accident? Then arisen another question if overloaded then where were traffic men in blue who are manning the different routes enroute the Sawjian area of Poonch district where this accident occurred? If the traffic men despite fully aware about the overloading in the vehicle let the I’ll fated vehicle to ply for the reason that the driver of the vehicle filled the coffers of them least bothered about the safety of those who were on board in this vehicle? Whether the I’ll fated vehicle fitness is alright or lived its life?, Whether the Vehicle tyres were durable meaning there by the very strength of the tyre to have wear and tear of the same or not? Due to poor conditions of the tyres several accidents occurred as per the past record? Whether the driver who was plying the bus was having the license of heavy motor vehicle or not? As it has been observed in rural areas those who are not that versed with knowledge of the driving kills they drive resultant there in put several passengers to grave risk? Whether the bus which met with an accident fulfilled all the requisite norms or not? These are the few questions which remained unanswered.
It is out of place to mention here in that even PIL has also been filed in the High Court in regards to the unabated dance of death on roads meaning there by those recurring accidents taking place in the rural and urban areas across the UT of Jammu and Kashmir as such PIL filed to ascertained the exact position of the traffic men in blues posted particularly in rural areas in order to now the know as to situation on ground as the dance of death on roads in rural areas become order of the day. Several directions issued by the HC in the PIL to the traffic department and other concerned authorities to filed the status report about the ground situation of the rural areas as the tragic road accident taking place day in and day out. Traffic department in its affidavit expressed its helplessness that there is dearth of staff in the department due to which traffic department couldn’t able to checked on these violators who overloaded the vehicles and drive the vehicles at their own whims amd fancies.
Several years since the passing of the PIL now, it has to be seen as what remedial measures does the government taken so far in terms of appointing Traffic Police in the rural areas in the rural areas and other important aspect that is of the road also which is also major cause of the accident due to bumpy rides in the rural areas. Whenever accidents occur the administration ordered a compensation to the next of kin of the deceased but the million-dollar question which begs answer is that whether compensation to the kin of the deceased would compensate the precious lives which has been lost due to the several reasons on the part of those who were required to ensure that safe passage to these passengers who were on board to their respective destinations. There is need for the LG administration to rise to the occasion and take stern action against those all who are responsible for this tragic accident so that it would acts as deterrent for others who ply the vehicles in rural areas. Sooner it would be done, better it would in the interest of the gullible at large. Today also another accident occurred in Pir Panjal area as several feared dead as bus rolls, down into gorge in Rajouri district.
