The road accidents across J&K claimed more than thousand lives last year while more than 7,000 people were injured, an official report has revealed.
The data compiled by state Crime Branch (CB) shows that 1006persons – 824 males and 182 females died in road accidents while 7718 personsincluding 6206 males and 1512 females were injured.
The Jammu division witnessed most number of accidents,compared to Kashmir and Ladakh divisions.
Of 1006 people who died in these accidents, 136 were killedin Jammu; 103 in Kathua; 101 in Samba; 89 in Ramban; 71 in Rajouri; 59 inUdhampur; 44 in Poonch; 39 in Kishtwar; 37 in Reasi 37 and 21 in Doda.
Similarly, in Leh 48 people – 22 men and 26 women died inthe road accidents, and in Kargil five people lost their lives in suchaccidents.
In Kashmir the road accidents claimed 253 lives with summercapital Srinagar recording highest deaths of 46 persons. Similarly the numberof people killed in the accidents were 39 in Anantnag; 26 in Awantipora; 22 inBaramulla; 20 in Ganderbal, 16 in Budgam; 14 each in Kupwara and Pulwama, 13each in Sopore and Kulgam, 11 in Shopian and 10 in Handwara.
During the last five years there has been an increase in theroad accidents. According to the CB data at least 6000 road accidents wererecorded last year, showing a jump of 373 accidents compared to 2017.
Similarly, in 2014 the State witnessed 5,865 road accidentswith Jammu region topping the list with 3,897 accidents.
However, in 2015 there was a drop in the accidents comparedto the previous year.
The State recorded 5843 accidents that year and the numberdropped to 5500 accidents the next year.
This number increased in 2017 when the CB registered 5626road accident cases. In 2018 the number of road accidents jumped to 6000. Atotal of 6206 men and 1512 women were injured in the accidents that year.
Jammu and Kashmir ranks second across India vis-à-vis roadaccidents with an average of over 900 deaths every year, during the last fiveyears, according to Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highway.
J&K Government had introduced J&K Road SafetyCouncil Act last year which provides for constitution of the State Road SafetyCouncil to ensure and regulate road safety across the state. However, there hasbeen no change witnessed on the ground.