Five killed, scores injured after avalanche hits passenger bus near Bhadarwah

At least five 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 12 passengers when the mishap took place.
He said three injured, including the driver, have been rescued so far.
“They are being treated at Sub District Hospital Bhaderwah,” said Sharma.
“Rescue operation is still going on and as the last reports came, five bodies have been retrieved from the snow. We are trying to arrange a chopper as it is extremely difficult to reach there,” he added.
The injured were identified as Mohd Shafi s/o Ghulam Mir resident of Udian Pur Doda, Driver of the vehicle Tanveer Ahmed son of Mohd Iqbal Butt of Sartingal Bhaderwah.
The deceased were not immediately identified.