CURATED BY – CHANDAN KUMAR CHAUBEY | CITYCHIEFNEWS

Damoh, Collector Sudhir Kumar Kochar, saddened by the horrific accident that took place yesterday on Katni road near village Samanna, said that the news of the death of 09 people of the Gupta family of Damoh in a road accident has shaken the entire Damoh. Can you imagine the immense pain that the family members must be going through, this is really a time of extraordinary sorrow for a family living their life in normal circumstances.

Today someone lost a son, someone lost a father, someone lost a brother, someone lost a sister, someone lost a mother. This is such an irreparable loss for the family, which no power in the world can compensate for now.

It is certainly a matter of relief that in this hair-raising incident, from the accident spot to the house of the victim's family, the people of Damoh came forward to serve the suffering humanity by becoming a partner in the crisis. The media friends, social service organizations, voluntary organizations, state government, respected public representatives, local citizens and doctors - the support given by all to the district police and administration can never be forgotten. Heartfelt gratitude to all.

The collector said but this incident raises a big question and also needs an answer. Shouldn't such a big incident be the first and last lesson for us that now the time has come to be very cautious and strict about saving lives on the road.

He said that I feel that there is a need to focus on some serious issues that cause accidents such as - drunk driving, driving without a valid license/permit, transporting passengers in an unfit vehicle, carrying more passengers or luggage than the prescribed capacity of the vehicle, driving on the wrong side, driving at high speed and cutting, carrying more than two passengers on a motorcycle, driving while talking on a mobile phone, not wearing a seat belt while driving a four-wheeler, not driving the vehicle on the prescribed route and taking it on a new route at will, not having adequate arrangements for passenger safety and convenience in passenger vehicles.

He said that the police and administration will take action together on all these points under an action plan and a zero tolerance policy will be adopted against the culprits. But can we also run a campaign on behalf of the society like Damoh should become drug free, that parents should not send children to school in such vehicles which carry more children than the capacity, that the youth of the family should be prevented from doing stunts and driving at high speed, do not risk your life and the lives of your family by sitting in overloaded vehicles just to save money and time.

The collector has also humbly requested all the citizens of the district to cooperate with the administration in bringing awareness in the society on these points. He said, I believe that the awareness of the society and the strictness of the administration together will prove to be very helpful in reducing such unfortunate incidents. I feel that if we can save lives by taking lessons for the future, then this will be our true tribute to the deceased of the Gupta family.