Jahangir Sofi
Srinagar, Nov 08 : In wake of the recent tragic accidents that claimed the life of several, including of a 15-year-old boy near Lawaypora, locals living in the area have urged authorities to station ambulances along the Narbal-Shaletang highway stretch.
Locals in the area are also demanding to construct overhead footbridges for safer pedestrian crossings, stating that the Narbal-Shaletang road stretch has been witnessing frequent accidents with three deaths happening in a span of 15 days.
Residents from Sozeith and nearby areas while speaking to the news agency highlighted the urgent need for ambulances on this highway stretch, citing frequent accidents that have often led to devastating consequences.
They said that quicker access to emergency medical care could help save lives.
“This road stretch has become a hotspot for accidents. Authorities should station highly equipped and critical care ambulances on this stretch so that lives can be saved. Also, there should be frequent patrolling and checks by traffic police to check on the speeding vehicles,” Ishtiyaq Ahmad, a local resident said.
Locals in the area demanded overhead bridges at several locations along the highway, particularly where residential communities are situated on either side of the road. They said that these bridges are essential to provide safe passage for pedestrians, including schoolchildren and the elderly, who frequently need to cross this high-traffic area.
“There are many schools in the area, and there should be overhead bridges for crossing the highway. Not only children, even elders, women have to cross the road and for that there should be overhead bridges at several locations of the highway,” said Shabir Ahmad, a local resident.
Meanwhile, the statistics from Kashmir reveal stark figures as the region, as per the official data reported 1,722 accidents with 240 fatalities during the first nine months of ongoing year, with Srinagar reporting 362 accidents and 36 fatalities.
According to the officials, the particular road stretch between Lawaypora and Shaletang has recorded at least four deaths with the latest addition being the 15- year old teenager who died in the tragic car accident. The road stretch has also reported over 20 major injury incidents due to road accidents during the last one year.
The Narbal to Shaletang road has seen a significant number of accidents over recent years, and residents believe that these measures would help prevent further tragedies.
The locals in the area have urged upon the authorities to respond swiftly to these safety concerns, prioritizing the installation of overhead bridges and ambulance stations on this critical highway route—
