20 Percent Road accidents in Chenab Valley recorded over the past 6 years

20 Percent Road accidents in Chenab Valley recorded over the past 6 years Image: The Himalayan Travel

VoM News Desk | January 11, 2025 | 06:46 PM IST | Featured by VoM, Jammu Kashmir | Follow on Google News

20 Percent Road accidents in Chenab Valley recorded over the past 6 years

The Chenab Valley, encompassing the districts of Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir, has emerged as a major hotspot for road accidents, accounting for 20 percent of all road accident fatalities in the region over the past six years.

Watch The Video Report

The primary reason cited for these accidents is poorly constructed roads, as outlined by a government-formed committee tasked with investigating the issue and recommending preventive measures.

According to data from 2019 to October 2024, Jammu and Kashmir recorded 4,899 fatalities in road accidents, with 852 deaths occurring in the Chenab Valley alone.

Among these were several tragic incidents, including a bus falling into a ravine in Kishtwar in 2019, killing 35 people, and a bus accident in Doda’s Asar area on November 15, 2023, claiming 39 lives.

Multiple vehicles have fallen into ravines in Kishtwar and Ramban between 2021 and 2025, leading to significant casualties.

Read Urdu Version of This News

Experts highlight the dire state of infrastructure in the region.

In a detailed report submitted to the High Court, the committee recommended rebuilding critical roads such as Asar Road and Rigi Nala, which are prone to accidents due to faulty construction. However, the implementation of these recommendations remains pending.

The High Court, in response to the alarming rise in road accidents, directed the formation of an expert committee in 2023. This panel included specialists from IIT Jammu, engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD), and road safety experts. The committee’s mandate was to identify accident-prone areas and recommend solutions.

Officials said that concerned departments have begun taking steps to address the crisis.

“Crash barriers have been installed at various locations, and some road expansions have been carried out. The Transport Department is preparing for stricter enforcement measures in collaboration with the police, traffic authorities, and district administrations. Registrations of overloaded and unfit vehicles are expected to be cancelled soon,” officials said—(KNO)

Read Jammu Kashmir News

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by VoM News staff and is published from the syndicated feed)

VoM News Desk

VoM News is an online web portal in jammu Kashmir offers regional, National & global news.