The numbers tell a painful story. Jammu and Kashmir recorded 1,109 highway accidents in 2026. In these accidents, 206 people lost their lives, and 1,658 others were injured. Behind every single number is a grieving family, a lost future, and a community in mourning. While the decline in accidents from 2,378 in 2022 to 1,109 this year is a positive sign, we cannot ignore the lives that continue to be lost. What makes these numbers even more disturbing is the age of the victims. Seventeen of those who died were children below 18 years. Another 25 were young people between 18 and 25 years of age. Forty victims were between 25 and 35 years old. These are our young people, our future. Their loss is not just a personal tragedy for their families but a loss for the entire society and economy of the region. The government has taken some steps. The PM-RAHAT scheme provides free treatment to accident victims, and 472 claims have been filed in J&K so far. However, only 43 of these claims have been settled. This shows that while the scheme exists, its implementation on the ground needs improvement. The national figures are even more alarming. Across India, 77,234 accidents on National Highways claimed 34,610 lives in 2026 alone. These numbers point to a crisis that needs urgent attention. The decline in accidents over the years is encouraging, but the sharp rise in fatalities in 2025 and the drop in 2026 raise many questions. We need to understand why these fluctuations are happening. The government has advised states to set up more hospitals near accident-prone areas. This is a good step, but much more is needed. Better roads, stricter traffic rules, public awareness, and faster emergency response are not just options—they are must-haves. Every road death is a tragedy that could have been prevented. It is time we stop looking at numbers and start saving lives. The cost of doing nothing is far too high.
