Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 21 October 2023
In an unfortunate turn of events on October 19, 2023, a major traffic snarl brought the National Highway 4 (NH-4) in Sastrinallah, Baratang, to a grinding halt. The chaos unfolded as a heavily loaded tipper and an STS bus found themselves ensnared in deep potholes, leading to an extensive gridlock that crippled traffic for nearly eight hours, from 2:30 PM to 11:00 PM.
The incident had a cascading effect on the vehicular flow in the region, causing a delay of up to 9 hours for the last convoy departing from JPP Middle Strait to JPP Jirkatang. Commuters, including 133 passengers, including children and elderly individuals, were left stranded.
In a heartening display of community-oriented service, the Baratang Police took proactive measures to mitigate the inconvenience caused to travellers. Not only did they spearhead the operation to dislodge the tipper and STS bus from the treacherous potholes, but they also went an extra mile to provide a late-night dinner for all affected passengers.
The gesture of arranging dinner for the stranded commuters was a testament to the commitment of the Baratang Police in fostering trust and cooperation within the community. Their active engagement with citizens and willingness to address their needs beyond their core law enforcement duties was well-received by the stranded passengers.
The incident also serves as a stark reminder of the dire need for infrastructure maintenance on NH-4 to ensure the safety and convenience of all commuters.
As the authorities work to address the issues that led to this incident, commuters are hopeful that such inconveniences will become a thing of the past, ensuring safer and more efficient travel along NH-4 in the future.