Deputy Commissioner, Kathua , O P Bhagat today flagged off a Walkathon as part of the ongoing Road Safety campaign.The inaugural event of Road Safety Week was organised by the Motor Vehicle Department under the aegis of RTO Kathua, to sensitize stakeholders about road safety measures. The Road Safety Awareness Rally-cum-Walkathon started from Government Degree College for Women with the participation of hundreds of school and college students and volunteers. It passed through the main town as the students were carrying placards to spread the message of road safety.The another highlight of the inaugural day of the Road Safety Week was an impressive Street Play staged by the college students on the theme of 'Essence of Road Safety and its positive impact in our daily life',The DC called upon the students to inculcate the habit of observing traffic rules as their role is pivotal in containing the road accidents. He said 80% victims of road accidents are people falling in 18 to 34 age group. He appealed to the public to act as 'good Samaritans at the time of road accidents and help to save the lives of injured victims.'By simply wearing Helmet and seat belts we can lower down the chances of road accident deaths to a great extent', added Deputy Commissioner.DDC Members from Keerian Gandyal, Nagri Parole and President, Bar Association Kathua Adv Ajatshatru Sharma also spoke on the occasion.Sr. Superintendent Police, Shailendra Mishra, who was the guest of honour, in his address, appealed students to become law abiding citizens and fulfill their part of responsibility by following all the traffic rules. He said 75 lives have been lost in road accidents in Kathua during the year 2020.NCC students of degree colleges also presented their views on role of all stakeholders in observing Road Safety.Earlier, RTO Kathua, Dr. R K Thapa in his welcome address, informed that the team of MVD has booked highest number of defaulters in last fiscal. He also threw light on the reasons of road accident fatalities viz over-speeding, wrong side driving, intoxication etc.