It is really a matter of grave concern that people have been losing lives in avoidable accidents on the roads in J&K. In this context, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has shared figures of the road mishaps and fatalities taken place in the region in the last few years. What is heart-wrenching is the fact that road accident fatalities in Jammu and Kashmir have increased in 2025 despite a decline in the total number of accidents.
The minister has informed that 5,317 road accidents claiming 983 lives were reported in Jammu and Kashmir during 2025. In comparison, the UT recorded 5,808 accidents and 831 fatalities in 2024, 6,298 accidents and 893 deaths in 2023, and 6,092 accidents with 805 fatalities in 2022.
Though the minister has not shared the data of accidents taking place in hilly terrains, those monitoring figures of road mishaps in J&K will not deny that more accidents take place in hilly areas in J&K. Going by the statistics of accidents available in the public domain, it becomes necessary that motorists in J&K take extra precautions while driving and the degree of caution should be more while passing through hilly areas having sharp bends and steep gradients.
It is the need of the hour that the authorities should focus on light motor vehicles, which are more prone to road accidents and fatalities especially in the hilly regions of the Union Territory. It is obvious that mountains in J&K require stronger safety rules particularly with regard to speed.
An accident reported from the Dachan area of Kishtwar district, where a passenger cab overturned after the driver reportedly lost control, leaving at least nine passengers injured, once again brings the issue of road safety in hilly terrains into focus. This accident serves as another reminder of how over-speeding can have serious consequences on mountain roads.
It is the time that LMVs should be asked to install speed governors like the case of passenger vehicles keeping in mind the famous slogan, ‘Speed thrills but kills’. It is not justified to keep the LMVs out of the ambit of mandatory speed restrictions especially in the region having lofty mountains and deep valleys. The high number of accidents involving taxis, private cars and other LMVs call for revisiting the existing safety norms and introducing speed-limiting systems in such vehicles across the UT.
This could become an important step to prevent avoidable accidents. As speed governors can contain accidents in good numbers, this should be accompanied by better roads, effective traffic police surveillance, mandatory training of drivers before issuing driving licence and improved emergency response systems including trauma hospitals.
These steps are not a choice but a pressing necessity to make roads in J&K safe and convenient for all.
