Double jeopardy Dalgate incident wherein a military vehicle, a car and a motorcycle collided, resulting in the death of two persons, calls for a thorough checkup of all wrongs that have not only made life of people difficult to live but also added to the insecurity. As one of the vehicles happened to be a CRPF gypsy, one can understand frustration of the people as it led to protests and torching of the vehicle. But at the same time people need not forget or ignore some other facts that are relevant to the incident. Rate of accidents in J&K, as reported in last few years, has been disproportionately high. If for a moment we forget that a military vehicle was involved, would the reaction of people be same? In every month and almost every week people have been dying in different accidents that happen across Valley and in the state. This alarming rate of accidents has conferred the title “killer roads” to different roads and road segments in Kashmir, and most people are aware about it. There have been a number of attempts by different agencies to get to root causes of accidents and casualties, but such good exercises have seldom, rather never, been taken up to any conclusion. Reckless driving happens to be a part of the problem. There have been several other reasons as pointed out in the past – like narrow roads, utter disregard for road safety and poor mechanism in place. The response from our political quarters has been limited to final rush to the site, condolence messages and a relief cheque to the surviving family. The responsibility of ensuring road safety is put on the state traffic department, which at its best conducts a brief awareness program in a year. Dalgate accident would perhaps be an exception as such an accident is rare in City where vehicles choke most of the roads. It is usual inconvenience of being trapped in traffic jams for hours that people have been demanding widening of roads. Nevertheless, there is a need of an ambitious project that would not only decongest roads but also lessen fatalities due to road accidents by minimizing their occurrences. But for that we need the most competent agencies and authorities to take up the issue, which does not seem to be a case reckoned anywhere as of now. People’s anger is justified, but the anger has to be directed at all concerned people and parties responsible for the mess.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 04:24:23 +0000
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