Road accidents rise sharply in Jammu Kashmir despite national decline

July 24, 2025 by News Desk

While road accidents across India have shown a declining trend, the erstwhile state of Jammu Kashmir is witnessing a disturbing rise in both crashes and fatalities.

According to data presented in the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, the number of road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir rose from 5,452 in 2021 to 6,092 in 2022, marking an increase of over 12 percent. Fatalities also saw a marginal but worrying increase, from 774 deaths in 2021 to 805 in 2022.

Ladakh, which has been tracked as a separate entity only since 2020, saw a much sharper spike. The number of accidents in the region climbed from 236 in 2021 to 374 in 2022, an increase of nearly 58 percent. The death toll more than doubled during the same period, with 62 fatalities reported in 2022 compared to 27 the previous year.

The primary reason behind the surge in both regions appears to be overspeeding.

In Jammu Kashmir alone, 5,990 of the 6,092 recorded accidents in 2022 were attributed to speeding, resulting in 797 deaths. In Ladakh, 212 speed-related accidents were reported, claiming 35 lives. Overspeeding remains the leading cause of road crashes across the country, accounting for over 72 percent of all road mishaps in 2022.

Other factors such as vehicle overloading, unlicensed drivers, and non-compliance with helmet and seatbelt regulations have also contributed significantly to road fatalities.

Jammu Kashmir reported 281 accidents caused by overloading in 2022, leading to 45 deaths. Ladakh recorded 91 such cases, with 10 resulting in death. The number of accidents involving unlicensed drivers in Jammu and Kashmir rose from 110 in 2021 to 126 in 2022, while Ladakh reported 37 such incidents, up from 19.

Non-use of protective gear continues to cost lives. In 2022, 81 people in Jammu and Kashmir died due to not wearing helmets, and 113 due to not using seatbelts. Ladakh recorded four helmet-related deaths and 27 fatalities due to seatbelt non-compliance.

Given the region’s mountainous terrain and the speed of travel on highways, these numbers have raised serious concerns.