Avalanche hits passenger bus near Bhadarwah, 4 killed

Jammu/May,4: At least four passengers were killed after a vehicle came under a huge snow avalanche near Chattar Gali pass on Bhaderwah-Basholi highway in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
A matador bearing registration number JK08D -5992, reportedly on its way from Bani to Bhaderwah, came under a mammoth snow avalanche as it was passing through a glacier, said BRO workers who were clearing snow and debris near Chattar Gali, 38 km from Bhadarwah.
They said that the avalanche dragged the vehicle down into a 1500ft deep gorge in Thanthera meadow.
SDPO Bhaderwah Brijesh Sharma said that the bus was carrying 13 passengers when the mishap took place.
He said that bodies of four passengers were retrieved while out of 9 wounded persons some are serious and shifted to hospital. He identified the deceased as Tariq Hussain (25) son of Muhammad Shafi Dar of Udhyan, Muhammad Shafi (50) son of Ghulam Muhammad of Udhyan, Mool Raj (40) son of Mana Ram of Bangor Ram and Karnail Chand son of Jagat Ram of Kastigarh Doda.
In another road accident one person was killed and 19  other passengers were wounded in a road accident near Dingla in Poonch district.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti while expressing grief over the unfortunate accident prayed for peace for the departed souls. She expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and directed the authorities to take care of the wounded persons.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah also expressed deep grief over the deaths in the accident.
Conveying his condolences to the bereaved families, Dr Abdullah has prayed for speedy recovery of injured. He also prayed for peace to the departed souls.