SRINAGAR: The Union Government has identified 74 accident-prone “black corridors” on National Highways across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with 73 located in Jammu and Kashmir and one in Kargil district of Ladakh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Lok Sabha.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question, Gadkari said the identified corridors are stretches of National Highways with a high concentration of serious road accidents and fatalities, requiring targeted safety interventions.
According to the Ministry, Jammu district accounts for the highest number of black corridors with 30, followed by Samba (14), Kathua (13), Reasi (4), Udhampur (4), Srinagar (3) and Rajouri (2). One black corridor each has also been identified in Baramulla, Kulgam, and on the Samba–Jammu highway stretch.
The Ministry further informed Parliament that 10,251 road accidents were reported across Jammu and Kashmir between 2020 and 2024, resulting in 1,350 deaths and 10,690 injuries.
The year-wise data showed that 1,512 accidents in 2020 claimed 258 lives and left 1,470 people injured. In 2021, 1,899 accidents resulted in 268 deaths and 2,175 injuries. During 2022, 2,378 accidents claimed 259 lives and injured 2,319 people.
The figures further revealed that 2023 recorded the highest number of fatalities during the five-year period, with 294 deaths and 2,456 injuries in 2,342 accidents. In 2024, 2,120 road accidents led to 271 deaths and 2,270 injuries.
The latest disclosure comes months after the Centre informed Parliament that 224 accident-prone black spots had been identified on National Highways in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with rectification work completed or underway at most of those locations as part of ongoing road safety measures.
