Police accuses driver, RTO blames Traffic Police

SRINAGAR: The Regional Transport Authority for South Kashmir Wednesday held Traffic Police responsible for the road accident near Sangam Bijbehara in which two women and a kid died while scores were injured.

Assistant Regional Transport Officer, Kulgam, Mubashir Jan said that the driver had not sought permission from neither State Transport Authority nor from Regional Transport Authority. The vehicle had a capacity for 22 passengers but at least 52 people were crammed into it. We fail to understand why the traffic police right from Kulgam to Gulmarag did not notice it. It is the sheer negligence of the traffic police that they allowed the driver to play with the innocent lives, he said adding that initial investigation has revealed that the said vehicle was not stopped or checked by any traffic cop anywhere, though it covered a long distance.

ARTO Kulgam also held the New General Mini Bus Association Anantnag responsible for the accident. We are seeking explanation from the Association, how it permitted the driver to take people on picnic when the driver had not sought permission from concerned agency, he said.

Meanwhile, police has termed the accident as a case of negligence and rash driving by the driver. The investigation has revealed that the driver had shown negligence and indulged in rash driving. We have recorded the statements of some of the injured passengers who confirmed that the vehicle was at full speed when it turned turtle, police said.

At least 3 people including two women died near Sangam Bijbehara when an overcrowded truck turned turtle on Tuesday evening.

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