Nearly eight people were killed when a bus fell off a bridge amid heavy rain in Punjab’s Bathinda on Friday. Reportedly, the bridge had no railings, which could have averted the bus from falling into the drain below. 

The accident took place near Jiwan Singh Wala village in Bathinda when a bus fell into a drain after crashing a bridge. A rescue operation is underway with the help of NDRF, police and locals.

The officials stated that the bus was carrying more than 20 passengers, and was headed to Bathinda from Talwandi Sabo. Reports said that local residents rushed to the spot to help rescue people and were joined by teams from police and local administration. 

The officials added that eight people were killed and the injured have been taken to a hospital. They said that it is being investigated whether heavy rain played a role in the driver losing control of the bus. 

Bathinda Urban MLA Jagroop Singh Gill also said that at least eight people were killed in a bus accident in Punjab’s Bathinda on Friday, adding that five died on the spot while three succumbed to serious injuries during treatment.

The MLA was briefed by the Bathinda civil surgeon Dr Ramandeep Singla when he visited Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh Civil Hospital in Bathinda city where 18 injured passengers are currently being treated.

Reportedly, identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed by the district authorities. The district officials said it was raining in Bathinda when the accident occurred and the cause of the mishap will be probed.

Furthermore, Bathinda deputy commissioner Showkat Ahmad Parray said soon after the accident, villagers rushed to rescue and they managed to save lives. A detailed investigation is underway to confirm how many people were onboard, he continued.

Reportedly, soon after the accident, district officials, including DC Parray and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Amneet Kondal, rushed to the spot.

Delhi and the nearby regions received moderate to heavy rain on Friday, leading to a drop in temperatures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued a hailstorm alert. The rain, which began early in the morning and continued through the day, is expected to last longer.

The IMD  issued an orange alert in Delhi. It has also issued a hailstorm alert for the national capital and several other regions in North India. Reportedly, an orange alert has been declared for Delhi for Friday, while a yellow alert has been issued for Saturday and Sunday.

The heavy rainfall caused disruptions to traffic in various parts of South, Central, and North Delhi. Reports stated that the highest rain was recorded at Delhi University’s North Campus, which also led to waterlogging in low-lying areas.

The IMD has forecasted additional showers in the city over the next few hours, primarily driven by a Western Disturbance interacting with easterly winds.

In its recent update, the weather department said that heavy rainfall is likely over Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan and West Madhya Pradesh on December 27. 

It added that thunderstorms accompanied by hailstorms are also likely over Southeast Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan, Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Gujarat Region.

Furthermore, cold wave conditions are likely to prevail in parts of Himachal Pradesh starting on Sunday. The IMD stated that fairly widespread to widespread rainfall/snowfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, is likely over the Western Himalayan Region on December 27 and 28, with isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall expected over Himachal Pradesh on December 27 and Uttarakhand on December 27 and 28.

Additionally, Rajasthan continues to experience cold conditions, with light to moderate rain reported in several parts of the state. The lowest minimum temperature of 5.4 degrees Celsius was recorded in Churu. The night temperatures saw a slight increase, ranging from 5.4 degrees Celsius in Churu to 17.2 degrees Celsius in Vanasthali.

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai whipped himself six times, as promised at a press conference held on Thursday. Notably, this self-flogging was first of his atonement for the inefficiency of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in ruling the state.

In the presence of mediapersons and BJP members, shirtless K Annamalai, wearing a green mundu, flogged himself with a long, white whip. Meanwhile, the BJP supporters were carrying placards with slogans such as Don’t you have any shame Stalin?, Hang accused Gnanasekharan and ShameOnYouStalin. 

Reportedly, the BJP Chief flogged himself about eight times before supporters rushed to make him stop. After the self-flogging, he addressed the media present there. K Annamalai said that anyone who understood Tamil culture would know that these practices were the ways of the land.

He added that flogging themselves, punishing themselves, putting themselves through very tough rituals etc. are all part of this culture. He continued that these practices are not against any person or not against anything. It is against the continuous injustice that’s happening in the state, he mentioned. 

He claimed that what has happened in Anna University is only a tipping point. He added that a lot of his forefathers walked this path and he has also chosen it. This is a process of surrendering to the higher power, surrendering to God, the BJP state chief added. He said that the common man was getting affected every day due to the administrative inefficiency of the DMK.

He further clarified why he decided to forego any footwear saying it was important to surrender yourself to a larger power. He said that he has taken this decision after a lot of consideration, and believes after all the hard work the party and cadres put in, it is also important that they surrender themselves to a larger power and leave it to the larger power to take care of the things that are happening.

K Annamalai, during a media address yesterday, vowed not to wear slippers until the DMK government was overthrown in the state.