A heart-wrenching tragedy struck in the Bunjwah area where the bride and her sister lost their precious life only a day after her marriage, and the groom, along with three others, was seriously injured and undergoing treatment at Associated Hospital Doda after First Aid treatment at Trauma Centre Thathri.
As the shocking news breakout, The whole Bunjwah and Udhayanpur areas including the whole Doda and Kishtwar district residents mourned over this incident and called it a drastic road accident that in a real sense killed precious lives due to the negligence of the Administration and representatives who only came forward at that time and rest of all do nothing in improving the road connectivity and installation of baracides and crash barrier.
It’s worthwhile to mention that the Hon’ble High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh issued directions to install a crashed barrier over Chenab Valley road which is a distant dream for the Bunjwah area wherein more than 35000 people reside and every day more than 1000 to 1500 moves and commutes over this road by putting their precious lives in danger.
The Bunjwah road, which was earlier sanctioned two decades ago, is yet not completed and maintained. As such, we are awaiting such killings. From 2009, the widening work of Bunjwah road was assigned to JKPCC, and then PMGSY, wherein the JKPCC withdrew 11 Crores without any execution of the works for 13 km despite that huge amount in bills withdrawn, creating a great loss for the government exchequer. The PMGSY also failed to take up the work properly as per the norms laid down by the government for the execution and maintenance of the road.
The installation of barricades and crash barriers can lead to reducing such tragedies, but unfortunately, no one is ready to take responsibility and fix accountability to avoid such tragedies in the future.
There is a need for the hour to initiate a judicial inquiry against the executing agencies and concerned authorities who are responsible for such incidents.
The author SHAFQAT SHEIKH is Freelance Writer and Socio Political Activist from Bunjwah Kishtwar and can be reached at [email protected] , 9419974577. The facts presented and views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of TheYouth. We welcome diverse perspectives and encourage open dialogue, but we do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any statements made in this article. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgment and research.