Five lives were lost and several others injured on Monday when a passenger vehicle plunged into the Kishanganga River on Seemari Road in Karnah, Kupwara. The tragedy has once again exposed the grave risks faced by people travelling through the remote and difficult terrain of north Kashmir. Every such accident is initially reduced to a police statement, a rescue operation and official condolences. But behind those familiar phrases lie shattered families, disrupted livelihoods and communities forced to pay the price for years of neglect. The deaths in Karnah must not be allowed to become another statistic in the region’s growing record of road tragedies.
The injured have been shifted to nearby health facilities, while rescue teams and local volunteers continue operations at the site. Their efforts deserve recognition. Yet the immediate response, however necessary, cannot substitute for the larger questions that follow every fatal accident. Was the road adequately protected? Were crash barriers installed along vulnerable stretches? Was the vehicle fit for operation? Was it overcrowded or driven recklessly? And how quickly can critical patients from such remote areas reach advanced medical care? These questions are not optional. They are central to preventing the next tragedy. The Seemari Road and other routes in the Karnah belt pass through challenging topography, where narrow carriageways, sharp turns, poor visibility and inadequate safety infrastructure can turn a minor error into a fatal plunge. In such areas, road safety cannot be treated as a routine engineering matter. It is a public-health and humanitarian obligation. The administration must order a time-bound and transparent inquiry into the accident. The investigation should examine the condition of the road, the vehicle, the driver’s compliance with safety norms and the adequacy of protective infrastructure. Its findings must be made public, followed by clear responsibility and corrective action. The government must also identify accident-prone stretches across Kupwara and install crash barriers, warning signs, lighting and emergency communication systems wherever required. Regular inspections of passenger vehicles and stricter enforcement of capacity and speed regulations are equally essential. Remote communities deserve reliable ambulances, trained emergency personnel and better-equipped health centres, not merely sympathy after disaster strikes. The Lieutenant Governor’s condolences and directions for the treatment of the injured are appropriate. But condolences cannot rebuild homes or return loved ones. The real tribute to those killed in Karnah will be decisive action that makes the next journey safer. A tragedy on the Kishanganga must not be followed by silence.
