Replying over the adjournment motion by BJPs legislative party leader, Chaman Lal Gupta, in the legislative assembly on Friday, Chief Minister said, “We want to know why these accidents are happening. Whether it has been due to the road conditions, lack of availability of transport and difficult terrain.”

He said that government has already sought the expert opinion of the Geology department to find that as to why the roads were sinking in the hilly areas like Doda where the recent caving in of the road near Assar left the people of twin districts of Kishtawar and Doda disconnected for nearly two weeks.

Chief Minister however rebutted the allegation of PDPs legislative party leader that the hydel power projects were made without any prior survey. “It has not been ascertained that the sinking of the road to Doda was due to the presence of Baglihar water project in the area,” he said.

Chief Minister said that the government will look into it that whether the issuance of more road permits in the state will help in tiding over the problem of road accidents. He said this in reply to the allegation by the BJP legislator, Chaman Lal Gupta that the accident in Doda on February 25 in which 41 people were killed had been due to the overloading of the bus carrying the passengers.

Chief Minister also announced that the ex-gratia relief in the accidents for those who are killed will be raised to Rs 1 lakh. Earlier PDP legislator, Mehbooba Mufti, asked the government to lay alternate roads to areas which have limited road network.

“Government should open the Bani-Basholi road, Kishtawar-Sinthan road, Chamba- Bhaderwah road to connect the districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban with the rest of country,” Mufti said.