Death rate in Road Accidents alarming in Kashmir

Bilal Bashir Bhat
Srinagar, Dec 21 : The menace of stunt biking and speeding bikes on the roads of Kashmir Valley is getting grave every passing day which has resulted the death percentage in Jammu and Kashmir in road accidents 66.5% against the national percentage of 37.2.
Despite the imposition of ban on stunts but still we watch on daily bases bickers doing dangerous stunts like wheelies, burnouts and stoppies, and other bike stunts.

On 6th June, 2014, 16 year old boy Rasik Shabir from Rajouri Kadal Srinagar died while doing bike stunts in downtown, the deadly stunt biking claimed the life of an 18-year-old student Muhammad Haroon Untoo, son of Abdul Rashid of New Colony when lost control over the bike while performing a deadly stunt at Nowpora Sopore, reports said, adding, the youth was without helmet and his bike rammed into a parked Maruti van (JK05D/2266) with great force.
Masses are aghast over the lack of will shown by law enforcement agencies to crack a whip on bike stunting and over speeding. Tahir Ahmad, an activist stated – “ Bike stunts should be heavily discouraged for those who are not trained in the discipline and are doing it for the thrill in those roads which are bustling the traffic. Safety should be the first priority for all, and due regard must be paid to the safety of innocent bystanders who become unavoidable victims of accidents resulting from these stunts. After witnessing deaths from these deaths the ban on stunts should be imposed. Unfortunately so far we have not witnessed much proactive approach from Traffic Police or civil society to curb menace of speeding and killer bike stunts. The media can also play a vital role in curbing the attitude of these youngsters who think it is “hip” to risk their necks while carrying out such acts and the government should focus upon providing other productive activities for youngsters.”
Statistics related to traffic accidents are quiet alarming in Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir stands at second place, only behind Nagaland, in high accidental death prone areas, according to the statistics provided some time back by National Crime Record Bureau. The death percentage in JK in road accidents is 66.5 per cent against the national percentage of 37.2.
Masses are calling to take efforts against deadly bike stunts and over speeding so that precious lives of youngsters.
Kashmir News Bureau