Kashmir’s deadly roads: One life lost every two hours, data reveals

Srinagar, Sep 09: The tragic accident in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, which claimed the life of a young man and left three others critically injured, has once again thrown a spotlight on the alarming frequency of road traffic accidents in Jammu and Kashmir.

Figures reveal a disturbing pattern. Between 2019 and October 2024, the union territory recorded 4,899 fatalities and 40,065 injuries in road mishaps—averaging about one death every two hours. In 2023 alone, there were 6,292 accidents across J&K, leaving 893 people dead and 8,469 injured.

Baramulla district has been one of the hardest-hit areas. In 2024, it accounted for 170 accidents that led to 35 deaths and 255 injuries. Within just the first five months of the same year, the district had already logged 119 accidents, including eight fatal crashes that killed 19 people and injured 116 others.

Kashmir as a whole ranks second in India for fatalities per 10,000 registered vehicles, averaging nearly 900 deaths annually. Experts note that the most vulnerable victims are young adults and two-wheeler users, particularly in regions where road infrastructure is poor, enforcement of traffic laws remains weak, and emergency medical response is limited.  [KNT]