Silent killer: Deaths on the road surge

More people die in road accidents in twin cities than terror-related incidents

ISLAMABAD:

Road accidents have claimed more lives in the twin cities over the years than terrorism-related incidents.

Despite the victims’ pain and grief of families, no solution is sought for this day-to-day problem.

“My two brothers were killed in a traffic accident on Jinnah Avenue last month and since then my family is in a state of shock,” said Zakaur Rehman. “They were the breadwinners of the family,” he added.



Shah Zaman, 45, and Ziaur Rehman, 28, were riding a motorcycle near the Centaurus Mall when a jeep hit them, dragging them several metres resulting in their death.

Zaman — a father of seven — and Rehman — a father of two — are among thousands who have lost their lives to similar accidents but no demonstrations have been held in their favour nor have the families been compensated as it is just another accident.

“It has become a routine matter and no one really cares,” said Zaka. “I stood next to the bodies of my brothers and a policeman was convincing me to forgive the suspected murderers,” he said while highlighting the callousness of officials and loopholes in the justice system.

Rescue data reveals that 17 accidents take place daily on average in the twin cities. In the past eight years, 47,021 accidents have affected the lives of at least as many people, the data added.

From August 14, 2007 to August 21, 2015, Rescue 1122 received a total 103,683 calls from Rawalpindi Division out of which 46,822 calls were related to road accidents. Most of the accidents occurred on Mall Road Rawalpindi, IJP Road Islamabad and the Islamabad Highway, the officials said.

Mall and IJP roads are the bloodiest patches known as “Black Point,” said Rana Waqas, media coordinator for Rescue 1122, while sharing the statistics with The Express Tribune.

He said wheeling near Ayub National Park, absence of flyovers, ditches and speed breakers on IJP Road are the core reasons behind the number of accidents.

CREATIVE: NABEEL AHMED

The expressway, from Faizabad to Koral Chowk, is also known as the ‘bloodiest patch,’ Waqas said, adding that a rescue team and an ambulance remains deployed 24-hours at Faizabad.  For him, over-speeding, jaywalking, wheeling, wrong turns and U-turns are among the causes behind accidents on the expressway.

“The issue of direct road crossing instead of using flyovers should also be immediately addressed,” he emphasised.

Among other issues, rescue data highlights the number of hoax calls which not only causes delay in rescue and relief activities but also adds to the loss of human life.

Narrating an example, a rescue official said Muhammad Ali*, a resident of Gujar Khan, was among the people who used to make fake calls to rescue officials. The officials added that he wasn’t able to call for help when a fire erupted at his home as his number was added in the list of fake callers. “He suffered himself but more importantly such callers waste precious time,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th,  2015.