Jammu, January 10:
The three districts of Chenab valley have become hotspots of road accidents. The last six years are witness to this. 20% of the total road accidents have occurred while travelling in Chenab valley. The biggest reason for this is haphazardly constructed roads. The committee formed to find out the reasons for the accidents and to curb them had also stated the same.
Despite this, the condition of roads in these districts has not improved. The remaining problems are overloading, bad roads, poor traffic system, speeding and operation of unfit vehicles. Chenab valley includes three districts Ramban, Kishtwar and Ramban. The Union Ministry of Transport and Roads had declared the Nachhri-Ramban-Banihal-Qazigund section in these districts as a black spot.
From 2019 to October 2024, 4899 people lost their lives in road accidents. Of these, 852 died only in Chenab Valley. Professor GM Bhat, chairman of the expert committee and former head of the Department of Geology, Jammu University, said that we had prepared a report of more than 100 pages and submitted it to the High Court. It was recommended to build Asar Road and Rigi Nala afresh in Chenab Valley. Because this road is not built properly and accidents happen due to this.
Major road accidents in Chenab Valley
2019: Bus falls into ravine in Kishtwar, 35 killed
15 November 2023: Bus falls into ravine in Doda Asar, 39 killed
4 December 2024: Kishtwar cruiser vehicle falls into ravine, 4 dead
29 March 2024: 10 killed including 8 from Bihar as vehicle falls near Ramban
5 January 2025: 4 killed as vehicle falls into ravine in Kishtwar
26 July 2021: Sub Inspector Rakesh Kumar, his wife and two children died in Kishtwar. Car falls into Chenab river.
