Jammu: Passenger bus falls into gorge, 15 killed

Fifteen people have been reported killed after a passenger bus fell into a gorge in Reasi area of Jammu district. Police, army officials and civilians were helping with the rescue operations.

Meanwhile, a bandh called by the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference to commemorate the death anniversaries of two senior separatist leaders, affected normal life in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.

The shutdown was called to observe the 20th death anniversary of Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq, the father of moderate APHC chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, and of Abdul Gani Lone, another separatist leader who was assassinated this day in 2002.

The elder Mirwaiz was killed by unidentified gunmen at his Nigeen residence in 1990 while Lone was assassinated while addressing a separatist rally near the martyrs' graveyard in the Eidgah area in Srinagar.

The state government has allowed Friday's rally as state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced that Mirwaiz  Umar Farooq could go ahead with the programme.

"We hope they refrain from inciting people and there are no law and order problems," the chief minister had said.

Shops, public transport and other businesses were shut in the city.

APHC chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq will lead the rally of supporters from the Jamia Masjid in old city after the Friday prayers to the martyrs' graveyard in Eidgah where both the slain separatist leaders are buried.