Daijiworld Media Network - Jammu
Jammu, Nov 4: A tragic road accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Tuesday left at least 30 people injured, many of them students, when an overcrowded minibus lost control and overturned.
According to officials, the vehicle was carrying more passengers than permitted and overturned after the driver failed to maintain control. Emergency teams rushed the injured to the Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri, where doctors referred two critically injured students to Jammu for advanced medical care. Both were airlifted for immediate treatment.
Senior officials, including the Deputy Commissioner, DIG, and SSP Rajouri, visited GMC Rajouri to review the condition of the victims. “Preliminary investigations suggest overloading and overspeeding as the main causes of the crash,” an official said. Police have registered an FIR and begun a detailed inquiry into the incident.
The accident comes shortly after another mishap in Sonamarg, Ganderbal district, where six tourists were hurt in a collision on the Srinagar–Leh highway.
Frequent road accidents continue to plague Jammu and Kashmir’s hilly regions such as Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, and Reasi. Experts and officials attribute the high rate of casualties to reckless driving, overloading, poor road conditions, and lax enforcement of safety norms.
In response, the traffic department has deployed inspection teams in vulnerable zones to curb overspeeding, overloading, and other violations. Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) across Jammu and Kashmir have issued strict warnings—drivers found guilty of such offences risk licence suspension, vehicle deregistration, or even imprisonment.
Authorities have also made it clear that in cases involving underage drivers, parents will face legal action, including possible jail time and cancellation of the vehicle’s registration. Fuel stations have been instructed not to supply petrol to motorcyclists without helmets.
Beyond punitive measures, the traffic department is running awareness drives, counselling drivers on road safety, and collaborating with local religious leaders and community figures to promote responsible driving habits across the Union Territory.