Chenab Valley Road Accidents Amid Drug Abuse

The Chenab Valley, with its rugged terrain, faces significant challenges when it comes to transportation and road connectivity. This area, situated in the former Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, continues to receive inadequate attention from authorities, resulting in poor transportation infrastructure. Despite the digital age, the region struggles with limited means of travel, particularly for its less fortunate residents.

While authorities have often made promises of improving road connectivity, the ground reality in the remote areas of Doda district tells a different story. The area remains underserved, and its residents continue to grapple with the inconvenience caused by deteriorating roads. E-governance projects and slogans of “reaching the unreached” have not translated into practical solutions for the people. Over the past three years, the region has experienced five accidents, primarily due to the deplorable road conditions.

In hilly terrains like Doda district, overloading of vehicles is allowed despite the heightened risk of accidents. District Magistrate Doda, Vishesh Mahajan, and Senior Superintendent of Police Abdul Qayoom recently conducted the 13th NCORD (Narco Coordination) meeting to address drug abuse and drug trafficking in an effort to make Doda district drug-free.

The efforts of the district administration are commendable, but there is a pressing need to address drug use during driving on these perilous roads, a major contributor to accidents in the region. Tragically, when lives are lost in accidents, the government and authorities do little more than offer condolences and express grief. The root causes of accidents are often overlooked, and no concrete plans or suggestions are put forth to reduce their frequency.

The condition of the roads has only worsened over the years, as the responsible agencies appear disinterested in completing projects. The region’s topography, characterized by rugged mountains, presents a challenge for travelers heading to places like Chatroo and Padder, making accidents more likely.

The state government and its departments have repeatedly failed to prevent such tragedies in Doda district. The area, which has experienced accidents on multiple occasions, still lacks proper transportation infrastructure provided by the government. Although private Tata Sumos operate in the area, they lack government support. The acute shortage of buses in the area has prompted locals to demand more State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) buses, particularly to ensure students’ safety.

The government is criticized for its inability to prevent accidents in the area. The Chenab Valley needs special economic initiatives from both the central and state governments to make the slogan of “reaching the unreached” a reality. The surge in reckless driving and accidents may be attributed to the consumption of illicit liquor and other substances.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs poses a significant threat to public safety. Such impairment can affect perception, cognition, attention, balance, coordination, and other essential brain functions required for safe driving. Driving while impaired has been linked to reckless driving, car accidents, and fatalities. This issue demands vigilant attention to protect lives in the Chenab Valley.

To address this problem, it is crucial to install traffic checkpoints at various locations in the Chenab Valley to deter reckless driving and prevent the loss of precious lives.

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Sadaket Malik

Sadaket Malik is a Research Scholar in Centre for Research and Development LPU Punjab, He is based in Bhalessa (Doda) and can be mailed at sadaket.lpu@gmail.com