Kangra district is witnessing an alarming rise in fatal road accidents, with crumbling roads and the unchecked menace of stray cattle increasingly turning highways and village roads into death traps.
The latest tragedy claimed the life of 28-year-old Abhishek Kumar, an employee of ICICI Bank, whose motorcycle skidded on the four-lane highway at Daulatpur on the Kangra-Dehra road after he attempted to avoid a stray animal that had suddenly wandered onto the carriageway.
A resident of Rajiyana village, Abhishek was on his way to work in Kangra when the accident occurred. He sustained critical injuries and later succumbed to them at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda. The young banker, the only brother of two sisters, leaves behind a grieving family, adding yet another name to the district’s growing list of preventable road fatalities.
The tragedy is far from an isolated incident. Kangra has witnessed a series of fatal crashes in recent months, exposing glaring deficiencies in road maintenance and safety.
In early June, Shaurya Chakra awardee Commando Amit Rana (32) lost his life in his native village of Khundian while trying to avoid a stray animal that suddenly appeared on the road. The decorated soldier is survived by his elderly parents, wife and three-year-old son.
Barely two weeks ago, 29-year-old Akshay Kaura, who was doing exceptionally well in his profession, died after his vehicle plunged into a deep gorge at Narghota on the outskirts of Dharamsala, at a stretch long known for frequent accidents. The incident triggered public outrage after videos from the site revealed the perilous condition of the road. Residents alleged that the Public Works Department carried out only temporary safety measures after the fatal crash, despite repeated accidents at the location since last monsoon.
Across Kangra, deteriorating road surfaces, potholes, damaged shoulders, inadequate drainage, missing crash barriers and delayed repairs have become commonplace. Several roads have reportedly remained unattended since last year, with officials citing a shortage of funds and a sharp rise in bitumen prices.
At the same time, the unchecked presence of stray cattle on highways and rural roads has emerged as an equally serious threat. Motorists are often forced into sudden evasive manoeuvres to avoid animals straying onto roads, increasing the risk of fatal accidents. Together, poor road infrastructure and the growing stray cattle problem are creating a dangerous combination that continues to claim lives across the district.