Five fatal accidents in a day, 35 human lives lost. Pakistan-administered Kashmir Why is Neelam Road, a famous tourist spot, now called ‘death road’?
Sapphire Valley It is considered as a hub of tourism and during 2023 more than 11 lakh tourists visited Kashmir according to the Department of Tourism.
According to police and tourism department records, three lakh tourists and 70,000 vehicles entered the Neelum Valley during the last six days of Eid alone.
But the means of travel in this valley are on the main highway Accidents Happening with such frequency that people are now afraid to go for it.
The 116-km long road connecting Muzaffarabad and Neelam Valley winds its way through difficult mountain passes, but five weeks ago, a passenger jeep traveling from Kiel to Taubat met with an accident in which 17 people, including seven tourists, lost their lives. gone.
One and a half months following this incident, 14 people died in a fatal accident at Devlian on the same road, one in Sargan Valley accident, two people died in an accident at Ratigali Dwarian, while four went missing and Yesterday, an accident happened to a tourist’s car at Dhani, in which two tourists lost their lives.
After the Devlian jeep accident, the Prime Minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, ordered an immediate investigation and also announced the establishment of a separate secretariat for the transport department.
Earlier in Kashmir all the transport departments were run under the management of Transport Authority.
After the accident, the Kashmir Traffic Police also launched a large-scale operation, in which cases are being registered under strict action once morest overloading, illegal alteration and vehicles without license, permit, fitness certificate.
Causes of accidents
The frequent accidents in Neelum Valley have various reasons, the most important of which is the use of old and almost obsolete vehicles.
Most of Kashmir consists of hilly areas, of which the Neelum Valley is the largest district in Kashmir by area. Due to the hilly and difficult terrain, travel here is possible only through four-by-four vehicles.
The local population uses jeep-like four-by-four vehicles to travel in these areas. These vehicles are mainly used for cargo but following illegally modifying the body and adjusting the seating capacity, they are used as passenger vehicles on the difficult mountain roads of different regions. goes
Steel cabins are installed separately on the roofs of such vehicles for the purpose of storing goods, while passengers are also seated on the roofs.
Such vehicles are often 70- to 85-year-old models, which typically do not receive monthly maintenance or maintenance, leading to higher accident rates. May increase.
On this issue, Transport Minister Kashmir Javed Butt said that strict action will be taken once morest those responsible for the accidents in Neelum.
“The transport sector was very flawed and during the last 70 years the Asaka minister was not in charge. We are taking steps for this and the secretariat is being set up. Now you will see improvement.
This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).
He said that laws are being made to prevent carrying more passengers or goods in vehicles and illegal conversions, in which the former will be punishable by six months imprisonment and the latter by two months.
The transport minister said that ‘Non-customs paid vehicles should be allowed in Kashmir and legislation is being made in this regard as well.’
During a press conference on the matter, the Transport Minister also admitted that the Transport Department officials are flouting his orders and they are the ones responsible for the whole matter.
According to official records, 155 people died and 225 people were injured in traffic accidents during 2015 to December 2022, while 32 people died and 50 people were injured in traffic accidents between May 1, 2023 and June 10, 2024.
SSP Traffic Chaudhry Muhammad Amin said that ‘traffic police is taking strict action, but there is no justification for stopping the vehicle or fine in Surat once the documents are completed, but strict action is taken once morest overloading.
Muhammad Abdul Qayyum, a transporter from Muzaffarabad, says that ‘in the hilly areas, people have made dirt roads to their homes and by buying cheap vehicles like jeeps, they not only deliver the essential goods of their homes on them, but also do the same thing. Employment is also created by mines.
#main #highway #Neelum #valley #called #death #road
2024-07-19 06:07:58
