15 injured after mini-bus travelling from J&K to Punjab falls into ditch

A mini-bus travelling from Udhampur to Dhandal skidded off the road and fell into a ditch near Johnu in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Thursday, injuring 15 people. The injured were shifted to the Associated Hospital of Government Medical College (GMC), Udhampur, for treatment.Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he had spoken to Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Ananth Dwivedi after learning about the accident. He added that no casualties had been reported and that the district administration was providing all necessary assistance.“My office is in touch with the district administration,” Singh said.The accident occurred as several parts of Jammu and Kashmir experienced rainfall, while fresh overnight snowfall covered the higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley. Rain lashed several plains across Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, while fresh overnight snowfall left the higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley covered in snow. Officials said the authorities had deployed personnel and machinery to clear snow from key roads.Udhampur recorded the highest rainfall in the region at 59.6 mm, followed by Poonch at 39.5 mm, Samba and Shopian at 34 mm each, Baramulla at 29 mm, Katra at 23.1 mm, Ramban at 17 mm, Kulgam at 18 mm, Anantnag at 16 mm and Jammu at 7.6 mm, according to weather data. Heavy rain in the Jammu region also triggered flash flood-like situations in several areas, officials said.Widespread rainfall lashed the Kashmir Valley, including Srinagar, which recorded 12 mm of rain. The showers began during the night and continued until Thursday morning, while cloudy conditions prevailed across most parts of the region.The Meteorological Department forecast continued rainfall and gusty winds across Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, with isolated hailstorms and light snowfall likely over higher reaches.Some higher-altitude areas received intermittent snowfall for the third consecutive night. The mountains and meadows around the tourist resorts of Sonamarg and the upper reaches of Gulmarg remained covered in snow, officials said.Snowfall also forced the closure of several key roads, including the Mughal Road, an alternative route connecting the Kashmir Valley with the Jammu region.Authorities deployed personnel and machinery to clear snow from the affected stretches. They said traffic would be allowed to move once the roads were cleared.Snowfall also affected the upper reaches of Bhaderwah, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri and Kathua in the Jammu division, triggering cold wave conditions in the hilly districts.The wet spell over the past three days brought down temperatures across the Valley. Day temperatures remained around 3 to 9 degrees Celsius below normal, while minimum temperatures were 1 to 3 degrees Celsius below normal, officials said.Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 17.4 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 6 degrees Celsius. Jammu recorded a maximum of 33.1 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 17.6 degrees Celsius.Sonamarg recorded a minimum temperature of 2 degrees Celsius, while data from Pahalgam was unavailable at the time of filing this report.The Meteorological Department forecast light to moderate rainfall across many parts of the Kashmir Valley on Thursday, with light snowfall over higher reaches. Thunderstorms, gusty winds and hailstorms were also likely at isolated places.In the Jammu region, light snowfall was likely over higher reaches, including important mountain passes and roads. The department advised travellers and transporters to plan their journeys accordingly.The weather is expected to remain generally dry on October 16, with a brief spell of light rain at isolated places in the Kashmir Valley. Generally dry conditions are forecast to continue across the Valley until October 24.For the Jammu region, the department forecast generally dry weather on October 16, with a brief spell of light rain at isolated to scattered places.The department also urged farmers to safely store harvested apples, paddy and other crops in view of the adverse weather forecast.- Ends