More than 4,000 lives were lost in over 25,000 road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir in the last four years, the state legislative council was informed today.
In a written reply to a question, transport minister Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan told the council that 25,460 road accidents took place in the last four years and 4,471 lives were lost in the mishaps.
While 1,100 people were killed in 2009, as many as 1,073 lost their life in 2010. In 2011, the number was 1,125, while in 2012 the figure raised to 1,173, he said.
Ramzan said 36,473 people were injured in these accidents.
Of the total people killed in the mishaps, 780 lives were lost in Jammu district, the minister said.
Ramzan cited use of mobile phones while driving, rash and negligent driving, mechanical fault and bad road conditions among the factors responsible for the accidents.
He said to minimise occurrence of accidents, plying of mini buses in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch districts has been banned.
Ramzan said bus operators have been directed to ply on fixed time table to avoid inconvenience to passengers and frequencies of services have been increased to prevent over-speeding.
