Srinagar, April 3: Heavy rainfall and erratic weather conditions triggered a series of road accidents across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, leaving one person dead and several others injured, officials said.
At least five accidents were reported from different districts, with slippery roads and reduced visibility suspected to be key factors behind the incidents.
The developments come amid an active weather system affecting the region, bringing rain and snowfall in higher reaches, which has disrupted normal life and increased risks on roads.
In Jammu’s Samba district, a dumper fell into a roadside drain near Jamoda, resulting in the death of the driver, identified as Surinder Singh, 35.
In central Kashmir’s Budgam district, two persons were injured after a car overturned in the Koowosa area of Magam after reportedly losing control on a wet stretch of road.
Similarly, three persons were injured in Ganderbal’s Gund Kangan area when a goods vehicle overturned, while in Srinagar’s Parimpora, a man sustained critical injuries after falling from a moving vehicle.
In north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, five schoolchildren were injured after a bus met with an accident near Shutloo, with officials attributing the mishap to slippery road conditions.
The cluster of accidents has raised concerns about road safety during adverse weather, particularly in hilly and high-traffic areas where sudden skidding and loss of control are common during rainfall.
Officials said all injured persons were shifted to nearby hospitals, where their condition was reported to be stable, except for the critically injured man in Srinagar.
“Wet road conditions and reduced visibility increase the chances of such incidents,” an official said, advising motorists to exercise caution.
Commuters also expressed concern over the increasing number of accidents during rainfall. “Driving becomes risky when roads are slippery and visibility is low,” a commuter said.
The weather department has already issued advisories for continued rainfall and possible snowfall in higher reaches, urging people to limit non-essential travel and follow safety precautions. [KNT]
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