Traffic snarl becomes more common in Srinagar city especially after opening of Durbar offices particularly at entering points. At regular intervals we usually come across troubled and irksome situations that unfortunately sometimes become the primary cause for loss of a precious life. But exercising proper care, lives could be saved; if patients including pregnant women, accident victims etc. reach hospital well in time. Injured and women in labour should reach hospital immediately in order to get special treatment, but, in our prevailing system, what is in vogue, there are arrangements in place for smooth movement of VVIPs comprising politicians, ministers their cavalcades and bureaucrats. As all of us might have witnessed traffic police stopping vehicles at various points especially at airport road in order to give hustle-free movement to VVIPs allowing them to reach their destinations without taking much time, just to take rest or attend trivial meetings. If they reach a moment late, neither there would be any trouble nor can lead to any mishap. Last year, I was on way to Srinagar and was caught in traffic snarl yards ahead from HMT crossing for a quite long duration, as we moved ahead it went more composited. I got stuck, for about 25 minutes and could not move my vehicle even an inch. I got worried when I heard siren of an ambulance behind. The siren was heart penetrating and the one who had experienced such a situation could easily have comprehended the pain and agony undergone by the patient and his attendants. They could do nothing instead cursing their ill fortune. It took ambulance 15 minutes to reach next to my vehicle. While enquiring condition of the patient from an inboard member who was peeping out from window requesting for way, I came to know that inside there was a pregnant lady in labour and needed hospitalization for secure delivery. After laborious work, pedestrians and drivers somehow managed to get ambulance out of the jam. We all breathed a sigh of relief and prayed to Almighty Allah for wellbeing of both mother and her baby so that hereafter we could not be accused of for the sufferings and anguish, the family went through.
Days before, I was on way home from Lal Chowk and on reaching Karanagar crossing an ambulance came behind and I suddenly give way to ambulance but that could not alleviate ill luck of the patient. Ahead there was packet jam and the ambulance even taking wrong road could not succeeded to approachand what happened there is shame for us all. The patient was disembarked and taken in hands. If ambulances carrying emergency cases do not reach hospitals in time, then it can lead to loss of precious lives. The treatment given to VVIPs needs also to be given to ambulances carrying emergency cases.
Concerned authorities of J&K Government especially traffic police should look into this grim matter and jointly devise a mechanism which would facilitate running of ambulances on roads in order to save previous lives that sometimes are lost due to bad traffic system. The concerned authorities should issue a directive in this regard, directing all concerned to give precedence to emergency cases being shifted to hospitals either in an ambulance or in private vehicles so that henceforth no patient is caught in traffic jam and left to suffer unnecessary pain and agony. General masses should also resolve to play a positive role by doing lane driving particularly at junctions prone to traffic jams. Roads meant for vehicles coming in opposite direction should not be used in any case. Violators should be booked besides their licenses and vehicles should also be usurped instantly and released only after obtaining affidavits dully attested by Hon’ble Judge that too after at least three months so that one thinks hundred times before committing such a mistake. Ambulances carrying patients and delivery cases should display name of the hospital, both at front and back sides, where patient is to be taken so that traffic police can easily understand which road needs to be kept open for its hurdle free movement. Devising a proper priority system and obeying traffic rules can save many precious lives that otherwise get lost to our collective negligence.
Ishfaq Parwaz
ishfaqparwaz4@gmail.com
