Srinagar: Days after the horrific accident in Srinagar’s Maloora which claimed two lives and injured one critically, the residents of the area have urged the authorities to lay speed breakers, saying their village is highly prone to accidents.
The residents of Maloora, on the outskirts of Srinagar which is known for its vegetable produce, told the news agency Kashmir News Observer, that their fields are adjacent on both sides of the stretch, and the vehicles pass on the road at a high speed.
“Our men, women, and children go to the fields, especially during morning and evening hours, but the movement of high-speed vehicles on the road poses a serious threat to the pedestrians,” said a group of farmers, adding that there are neither service lanes nor footpaths.
The locals said their area has been witnessing frequent accidents and in the absence of speed breakers, most of the vehicles are moving at an “uncontrollable” speed.
Ghulam Ahmad Dar, one of the relatives of the deceased boy who died in the accident, said the family is shattered by the loss.
The boy did not die of his mistake but due to the reckless driving by another person, he said.
“Our boy was standing on the side of the road, and a fast tipper came and rammed into him along with a traffic cop. Had there been a speed breaker, the situation would have been different,” he said.
The residents of the area said that although the road has less width and is a “single lane” road, the additional traffic movement of Amarnath Yatra vehicles has further burdened it. After the end of the daily convoy of yatra vehicles, the transporters, especially those carrying goods, rush with speed.
“The road stretch goes through Maloora which has more than 20 link roads on both sides with many schools and masjids. Our elderly people and children cannot move outside fearing that the fast-moving vehicles may run over them. Either we have to company them or take them along while going to the fields,” the residents said.
They have appealed to the administration to direct the concerned agency to lay speed breakers and signboards in the area. They also appealed to the city traffic police to carry out regular checks and inspection of vehicles in the area.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police for City Traffic, Muzaffar Ahmad Shah said that they would be stationing frequent deployment of integrated hi-tech version speed interceptor vehicles in the area.
“We will surely look into it. Our teams with integrated hi-tech version speed interceptor vehicles will be stationed in the area on regular intervals,” the SSP Traffic said.
