Councilor, driver killed as jeep falls into ravine

Two men died while two others suffered serious injuries when their jeep plunged into a ravine in Ghanool near Balakot on Tuesday morning.

According to the police, the vehicle met with the accident after the driver lost control of the jeep while negotiating a curve, as a result a councilor and his driver lost their lives on the spot.

They added that the deceased were travelling back home after attending an engagement ceremony.

The locals and rescue teams rushed to the spot and shifted the bodies and injured to a nearby hospital.

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Poor infrastructure

In Balakot, a rising toll of daily fatalities in accidents highlights the dire consequences of dilapidated, narrow roads, and inadequate vehicle maintenance. As the elections draw near, candidates, previously inactive in addressing Balakot's plight, now offering service to the public. However, criticism mounts against the administration and associated institutions, particularly concerning the absence of regulations governing vehicles and road users.

Recent accidents across several areas in Tehsil Balakot illustrate the hazardous conditions of roads, lacking any mechanism for ensuring vehicle fitness. These accidents underscore the region's unresolved backwardness, despite claims of progress that have been more rhetoric than reality.

The failure of change or development initiatives to reach the mountainous regions of Balakot is evident, with successive representatives unable to alleviate the prevailing backwardness. The lack of enforcement of traffic regulations on these hazardous roads places a share of responsibility on the administration for the recurring accidents.

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Tragic incidents over recent days in Ghanool claimed the life of Javed Mughal, a former National Assembly candidate, while casualties also occurred in various areas. Another fatal accident in Ghanool took two more lives recently and several people suffered injuries. Additionally, accidents during peak travel seasons have claimed the lives of several tourists.

Despite this escalating crisis, neither the administration, the government, nor local representatives have taken preventive action to curb these accidents. The constituents of PK-36 Balakot face a pivotal decision in electing representatives who actively address the region's challenges versus those who merely chant slogans. The fate of Balakot's progress now rests in the hands of its people.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2023.