THE recent spate of accidents, involving a particular bus company, has left the people of Gilgit-Baltistan stunned and outraged. Juset weeks ago another bus of the said fleet lost its track on the Karakoram Highway and resulted in three deaths and several injuries. With a staggering 53 lives lost and more than 75 injured in just a few years, it is imperative to scrutinise the company’s operations and demand accountability.

The frequency and severity of these accidents expose a disturbing pattern of negligence and disregard for human life. The 2019 Babusar Pass accident, which claimed 26 lives, was a wake-up call that went unheeded. Subsequent accidents in 2022 and others have only reinforced the notion that the company concerned prioritises profits over safety.

In the 2017 Skardu accident, a bus from the company collided with a truck, resulting in five deaths and 10 injuries. In the 2015 Naran accident, a bus fell into a ravine near Naran, resulting in 12 deaths and 25 injuries. In 2013, a bus collided with a car near Gilgit, resulting in three deaths and five injuries. A bus crashed into a truck near Mansehra, resulting in four deaths and 10 injuries in 2022.

Investigations have consistently revealed glaring lapses in safety protocols. Drivers have been found guilty of ovespeeding, reckless overtaking, and ignoring safety guidelines. Faulty brakes, worn-out tyres, and inadequate safety features have contributed to the accidents. Buses have been consistently overloaded, adding to the risk factor. Drivers lack proper training, leading to inadequate response time and decision-making. The bus company’s management has demonstrated a stag-gering lack of concern for passenger safety.

Additionally, the company has failed to provide adequate information on safety measures and accident investigations. Its management has shifted blame onto drivers, passengers and external factors instead of acknowledging its own systemic failures.

Enough is enough, one must say. The government and its various regulatory bodies must take immediate action, such as suspension of the company’s operating licence until safety standards are met. There should be independent investig-ations into all the accidents narrated above, apart from regular inspections of vehicles and drivers to ensure safety compliance.

The lives lost as well as those injured are not mere statistics; they represent families torn apart, futures cut short, and a nation’s trust shattered. Will the authorities finally take action, or will the carnage continue?

Muhammad Irfan Balti
Skardu

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2024