Deadly roads

The worst ever road accident in the state claimed 22 lives

P.S. Chauhan

In one of the most tragic road accidents in the state so far, 22 persons from Haridwar lost their lives. As far as Haridwar is concerned this is the worst ever road accident claiming so many lives. Road accidents have become a common feature, both in the plains and the hills of the state. Sometimes it is the bad condition of the roads, sometimes the driver is drunk, sometimes it is rash driving, sometimes it is the violation of traffic rules, sometimes the vehicle is overloaded, all these have turned the roads of the state into death tracks. "Hundreds of people die every year in road accidents in the state. The time has come when the administration should consider the gravity of the situation and the people should also start following the road safety rules seriously", says Kailash Keshwani, the president of the district Vyapar Mandal.

More than 400 persons, men, women and children, all belonging to business community, had gone to Mussoorie and Dhanolti for a new year bash by buses and cars. As the fleet of the buses and cars was returning to Haridwar, a bus fell deep down in the gorge, near Dehradun, late in the evening. Ajay Sharma one of the survivors travelling in the ill-fated bus, told Haridwar Plus that the driver was drunk and under intoxication he turned the bus towards the gorge, resulting in the accident of such a vast magnitude. The chief minister, Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank announced the economic assistance of Rs. 100,000 each for the family of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 each for those who have sustained serious injuries.

In the accident 9 men, 7 women and 6 children under the age of five lost their lives and 19 others sustained serious injuries. Some families have been totally wiped out. The family of Mool Chand Wadhwa of Bheemgoda is one of the worst hit. He lost his son Sonu Wadhwa (35), his daughter-in-law, Sonia (33), his grandson Nishant (8) and his grand daughter Bhavya (3) . The Pahwa family, the proprietor of the Diamond Stationary, Jwalapur, also suffered the cruel blow of fate. The family lost Tarun Pahwa (36), his wife, Meenu Pahwa (34), his daughter, Akanksha (12). Tailor master Ghanshyam Bhagat lost his daughter Noopur (17), his son-in-law Bittu (35) and his grand daughter-in-law, Gungun (7). Motiram of Bhimgoda lost 5 in his family, including his elder daughter-in-law Poonam (30), his younger daughter-in-law Dhooni Devi, his grand daughter Bhoomi (3), maid servant Rubi (17) and his servant Mahesh.

A deep pall of gloom fell on the city, as the news of the accident reached the people here. The markets wore a deserted look, as all the shops remained closed to pay homage to the departed souls. It was really a heartrending sight, as one dead body after another was brought for the last rites. The last rites of 10 persons, all residents of Haridwar city, were performed at Kharkhari, while 12, all residents of Kankhal and Jwalapur, were consigned to flames at Rajghat Kankhal, amid damp eyes of thousands of mourners. Among those who attended the funerals were the Speaker of the state assembly, Harbans Kapoor, the state minister for tourism and urban development, Madan Kaushik, the state minister for revenue and disaster management, Diwakar Bhatt, the chairman of the state sales tax advisory committee, Pankaj Sehgal, the chairman of the state cow protection commission, Swami Yateeshwaranand, the president of the Ganga Sabha, Ram Kumar Mishra, the chairman of the city municipal board, Kamal Jora and the president of the city Vyapar Mandal, Suresh Gulati.