Northeast Desk, 23rd April: In a concerted effort to address the escalating instances of fatal accidents involving heavy trucks, a coalition of five organizations in Garo Hills has issued a fervent appeal for stringent restrictions on the movement of such vehicles to and from Tura and its surrounding areas.
Comprising the Garo Students Union, Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People, Achik Youth Welfare Organisation, Association for Democracy and Empowerment, and Federation of Achik Freedom, the coalition collectively penned a letter addressed to the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Jagdish Chelani.
In their impassioned plea, they highlighted the urgent imperative to confront the alarming surge in road mishaps, particularly those involving dumper trucks, which have wrought devastating consequences.
The fervor for action was catalyzed by a tragic incident on April 20, wherein two siblings suffered critical injuries after being struck by a truck at Tura Ballongre.
Expressing profound concern over the mounting toll of lives lost in such accidents, the coalition leaders stressed the immediate necessity for deliberation on the scheduling of heavy truck movements and the enforcement of regulatory measures.
“A chorus of voices from Tura’s conscientious citizens has voiced apprehensions about the recurrent spate of accidents, which have inflicted irreparable losses on countless families,” remarked a coalition spokesperson.
In alignment with their concerns, they proposed that the district administration devise a comprehensive plan reminiscent of prior directives that restricted truck entry into Tura town and its environs from 7 am to 7 pm. Additionally, they advocated for the provision of medical expenses by the authorities and the disbursement of compensation to accident victims and their families.
Moreover, the coalition advanced recommendations for the establishment of designated stoppage points at strategic junctures such as Darengre, Rongram, and Damalgre to regulate the influx of trucks originating from diverse directions.
Underlining the imperative for stringent enforcement of speed limits and weight restrictions, they implored for proactive measures to mitigate the hazards associated with over-speeding and overloading of trucks.
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