Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir has seen more than 7,000 bus accidents in the last two decades, raising serious concerns about road safety. In response to a question from MP Krishna Prasad Tenneti in the Lok Sabha, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways confirmed that bus accidents happen frequently across the country.
According to the Ministry’s data, Jammu and Kashmir had 1,494 bus accidents in 2004. The number dropped to 612 in 2008 but then rose again to 1,590 in 2014 and 1,583 in 2015. In 2017, the number fell to 399, but it fluctuated in the following years: 425 in 2018, 344 in 2019, 348 in 2020, 412 in 2021, and 357 in 2022.
In Ladakh, there was no recorded data on bus accidents until 2021, when no accidents were reported. However, in 2022, there were 36 bus accidents in the region.
Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari spoke about the issue, saying the government is taking steps to improve road safety. These steps include conducting safety audits, fixing dangerous areas, and setting new safety rules for vehicles.
The National Road Safety Strategy has also been expanded to cover Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, aiming to reduce traffic-related deaths. Authorities are enforcing stricter traffic laws, running awareness programs for drivers, and improving emergency response systems.
Other important measures include installing crash barriers, better road design, and promoting modern safety technologies in public transport vehicles. These efforts aim to make roads safer for everyone.
As the government works to improve road safety, people in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh hope to see a significant drop in bus accidents in the future. For more updates on road safety efforts, keep an eye on dogra times and official announcements.
