Srinagar, Apr 14 (KNO): In the aftermath of the tragic Handwara college bus accident that claimed two lives, the students across the Kashmir valley joined hands with the J&K Police to promote traffic awareness and road safety.
Students, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) were seen assisting cops from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, pleading with motorists to wear helmets, avoid overspending and respect traffic rules in several townships across the valley, including Handwara, Sumbal and Anantnag.
“Road safety is not just a rulebook issue, it is about valuing lives. We have seen what happens when negligence goes unchecked,” the participatory students said.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, who facilitated the initiative, believed that the participation of students has sent a strong message about the role of civic responsibility in preventing such incidents.
Earlier, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic Rural Kashmir, Ravinder Pal Singh at Kupwara had a few days back stated that despite the awareness drives, the initiative will only bear fruits if motorists truly understand and cooperate with the rules.
“We try our best to reach rural areas with a thrust to control accidents, fatalities, but this is only possible when people consider whatever we advise them,” SSP Singh said.
He also pointed out that wrong-lane driving is a major contributor to road accidents and cautioned against teenagers driving without proper licenses.
The SSP, in the meanwhile, added that they will be strict with the school buses found to be overloaded. “They need to follow the guidelines of the Supreme Court. We will distribute stickers displaying the guidelines and traffic department contact numbers.”
He further noted that installing CCTV cameras in school buses would become mandatory, adding that they are going to seize the vehicles that violate these parameters.
Pertinently, on April 12, two young female students lost their lives while 23 other received injuries after a college bus carrying students en route to a picnic met with a severe accident in Vodhpora, Handwara in north Kashmir—(KNO)