15 accidents were caused by potholes in 3 years
WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: In five years (2018-2022), Jammu and Kashmir reported recorded a total of 28,178 road accidents and 4,287 fatalities.
The number of accidents saw fluctuations, with a sharp decline in 2020, likely due to COVID-19 lockdowns, followed by a steady rise in subsequent years.
This was informed by the Minister of Road Transport and Highways in Lok Sabha. Question was raised over the total number of road accidents reported in the country during the last five years, State-wise; the total number of deaths caused due to such road accidents, State-wise; and the break-up of the data on deaths caused due to such accidents, age group-wise.
According to the statistics, the number of road accidents fluctuated significantly, with a sharp decline in 2020, likely due to COVID-19 lockdowns, followed by a steady rise in subsequent years. In 2018, the region recorded 5,978 accidents, which slightly decreased to 5,796 in 2019. However, 2020 saw a major drop to 4,860 accidents. This number increased again to 5,452 in 2021 and further rose to 6,092 in 2022, marking the highest in the five-year period.
Fatalities due to road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir also showed variations. In 2018, there were 984 deaths, which slightly increased to 996 in 2019. However, in 2020, the number of deaths dropped significantly to 728, corresponding with the reduced number of accidents that year. The fatalities then slightly increased to 774 in 2021 and 805 in 2022, showing a gradual upward trend.
The Minister of Road Transport and Highways in another question responded that in three years (2020-2022), Jammu and Kashmir reported 15 road accidents which were caused by potholes on all category of roads.
No separate data is maintained in respect of road accidents caused by potholes on National Highways. However, 32.9% of accidents occur on National Highways whereas rest occur on other roads, the Minister informed.
