The deadly National Highway-1A has once again struck furiously at innocent lives. In a tragic accident, a mini-bus plying from Banihal Railway Station to Ramban fell in a deep gorge near Battery Cheshma, leaving 14 passengers dead and 28 others injured some critically. The cause of this tragedy is the same as in so many cases that happen on this road season in and season out. Close examination of this and other road incidents safely fall under the category of violation of human rights and the Government has to be held responsible for it. The Government is duty bound to provide all safety measures for passengers of a vehicle plying in dangerous hilly terrain.
Allowing overloading the mini-buses, drive rashly in violation of speed limit rules, not checking the driving documents of the driver, not checking whether the vehicle is in proper condition and above all not stopping the bus at a number of check points on way to its destination are all serious lapses on the part of the traffic police department. Therefore this is a clear case of violation of human rights and the victims will be justified in demanding adequate compensation for the trauma and nightmare of disastrous accident they have faced.
In addition to this, the kith and kin of the deceased are fully justified in demanding dismissal of the officers and their juniors concerned, who were supposed to subject the mini bus and its driver to a standard check, a duty that was ignored. On the basis of dereliction of duty resulting in grave loss of life and disaster for innocent civilian families, the case for dismissal of the concerned staff becomes valid and strong. Even the passengers who force overloading of the vehicle beyond the prescribed capacity should also have been brought to book but they are more than punished by the combination of circumstances and hence nothing will be said about them.
There are only a handful of buses to meet the requirement of passenger mobility in the State. Population is increasing and so is mobility among people because life has become faster and nobody has time to wait. In view of this ground reality, the solution is in increasing the number of passenger vehicles. Moreover, mini buses are not the answer to reducing great pressure on public transport. We need buses with larger capacity, better comforts for passengers, absolute adherence to traffic rules including the rules for maximum loads. Weekly check of vehicles should be undertaken by the traffic department and concerned authorities should be held responsible in case an accident takes place owing to non compliance of traffic rules.
Since most of these tragic accidents happen along the NH-1A it might be desirable to create a new disaster control mechanism for this specific connectivity. It could be a combined unit with staff drawn from Police, Road Transport, Tourism, Medical and PWD Departments with terms of reference of maintenance, safety, security and induction of rescue work on more vulnerable patches of the NH-1A and its main arteries.
With each road accident claiming lives of large number of passengers, we raise our voice through these columns exhorting passengers especially those travelling in remote areas not to play with their lives by overcrowding the vehicles be it the buses or trucks. Departments should have undertaken a rapid programme of educating village folks not to overload minibuses at the risk of their lives. At the same time, it should have come out with a scheme of how to reduce pressures on the traffic in far flung areas.
In conclusion, let us once again reiterate that accountability is the most needed cure for recurring road accidents along the NH-1A or its arteries. Unless the Government takes note of this impression of general public and takes serious corrective measures, road accidents along the National Highway will see no relent.
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