Expired Permits, Validity, Fitness, Insurance, Registration: ARTO Sopore Baramulla, Rural Police Role under Scrutiny after Tragic Incident
Reyaz Rashid/Inayat Qayoom
RAFIABAD, JUNE,13 :
In a tragic incident three persons died while as eighteen others got injured and several injured are critical when a minibus turned turtle at Pazalpora Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday.
The mini bus bearing the registration number JKO5-6339 overturned leaving three passengers dead and 18 others injured. The accident occurred when the driver lost control on the vehicle.
Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene, and the injured were transported to PHC Dangiwacha where from 14 injured were rushed to Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla for urgent medical care. The hospital administration confirmed the arrival of 14 injured individuals, among whom three were declared dead.
The deceased have been identified as Abdul Rashid Khan, son of Mohammad Yousuf Khan, resident of Haman Markoot, Rafiabad, Noor Mohammad Junju, son of Alam Deen Junju and Bashir Ahmad, resident of Haman Markoot, Rafiabad.
The condition of several injured passengers remains critical, with medical staff working tirelessly to provide the necessary treatment. The accident has left the local community in shock, as authorities continue to investigate the cause of the minibus losing control.
Preliminary investigations into the accident revealed alarming details about the minibus’s condition and its compliance with regulatory standards. The vehicle had expired fitness, registration, tax, insurance, validity, and permit documents.
Shockingly, it was discovered that the vehicle had been locked by the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Baramulla due to non-compliance with election duties for the Srinagar parliamentary constituency. Furthermore, the minibus’s route permit had been suspended on May 13, 2024.
The RTO Kashmir, Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari, commented on the incident, stating that according to available records, the vehicle was not fit for road usage. Despite this, it was deployed in rural areas, raising significant concerns about the oversight by the ARTO and rural traffic police. Additionally, it was disclosed that the conductor was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Locals said that the accident highlights several points of failure and negligence by authorities and individuals responsible for ensuring road safety and regulatory compliance. They asked how Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Baramulla allowed the vehicle to be assigned for election duties despite its expired permits and fitness certificates and why ARTO failed to enforce the suspension of the vehicle’s route permit effectively.
Urging authorities to ensure strict adherence to vehicle fitness and permit regulations, locals also alleged that rural traffic police has failed to prevent the operation of a vehicle with expired permits and fitness certificates as they did not conduct adequate checks to ensure the vehicle’s roadworthiness in rural and far off areas.
People of the appealed authorities to increase vigilance and enforcement to prevent such incidents in the future besides rued the irresponsible behaviour of minibus owner and operator for operating the vehicle despite its expired documents and known unfitness for road usage. Besides he allegedly has allowed the conductor to drive, possibly contributing to the loss of control.
The locals are demanding accountability and justice for the victims. They have raised concerns about the negligence of ARTO Baramulla and the rural traffic police in allowing the vehicle to operate despite its expired permits. This incident has highlighted the broader issue of overloading and unsafe public transportation in rural areas like Baramulla Kandi, Sangrama Kandi, Rafiabad, Uri, Patan, and Sopore.
Authorities have emphasized the collective responsibility of the RTO, traffic police, and the transport system in preventing such incidents. RTO Kashmir assured that enforcement drives are being conducted, and defaulters will face strict consequences. The tragic accident has also underscored the need for public awareness and vigilance regarding road safety.
People demand high-level investigation into the incident to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the loss of three lives and the injuries to 18 others. There are demands for stringent actions against negligent officers and officials to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The tragic road accident in Pazalpora Rafiabad serves as a grim reminder of the critical need for stringent enforcement of vehicle regulations and the collective responsibility of the authorities to ensure the safety of public transportation. The loss of lives and the injuries sustained by many underscore the urgent need for improved oversight and accountability in the transport sector.