2899 killed, 24866 injured in accidents since 2013 in JK

As many as 2899 persons were killed and 24866 injured in around 20000 road accidents across Jammu and Kashmir from January 2013 to December 2015.

As per the official records, 917 persons were killed and 8142 were injured in 5850 road accidents in the state last year. Earlier, 992 people were killed and 8043 injured in 5867 road accidents in 2014 while 990 persons died and 8681 people were injured in 6469 road accidents across J&K in 2013.

In Srinagar city alone, 59 persons were killed and 375 injured in 435 accidents last year. As many as 51 persons were killed and 313 were injured in 364 accidents across Srinagar city in 2014.

Officials attribute the accidents to various factors including negligent and rash driving and bad roads.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Traffic City, Maqsood- Ul-Zaman told KIF that most of the accidents involve two-wheelers, passenger buses and mini-buses.

“Out of 435 accidents, 97 involved scooters and motorcycles while 58 accidents involved buses and mini-buses last year in the city premises alone. Similarly in 2014, out of 364 accidents, 88 accidents involved scooters and motorcycles while as 33 accidents involved mini-buses,” he said.

“Negligent and rash driving are not the only major causes of road accidents. Bad roads are cause accidents. Even a small pothole on the road can cause an accident,” Maqsood added.

He said the increase in the number of vehicles and shrinking roads were other causes of accidents in the city. “With more affordability and easy financing by banks there has been major increase in the vehicular population which is another reason for the accidents.”

The SSP said the traffic department was taking every possible step to minimize road accidents.

“We educate people and counsel them. We impose heavy fines and challans on violators of traffic rules,” he said.

“Though buying a car is a constitutional right of a person, but at the same time we should have parking lot for it as well,” he added.

Maqsood said Rs 32 lakh was realized as fine from the violators in January this year in Srinagar city alone. “Whatever steps we take for the betterment of the traffic system will not yield any change as long as people do not cooperate the system,” the SSP Traffic said.