Bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims skids off road in J&K, 39 injured; rescue operation averted major tragedy
SRINAGAR: At least 39 pilgrims returning from the Amarnath Yatra were injured on Tuesday when their bus skidded off the road and plunged into a 50-foot-deep gorge in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir. The accident occurred near Ranga Morh in Ganiwan around 7 am, prompting a swift multi-agency rescue operation.
According to officials, the vehicle was travelling from Baltal towards Srinagar when the driver lost control. The bus fell about 25 feet before its descent was broken by a house in a mountain hamlet, preventing it from sliding further down the slope. Locals said the house belonged to Din Mohammad, who was away with his family at the time of the incident. This intervention likely averted a more severe tragedy.
The injured include 21 pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh and 19 from Rajasthan. They were taken to the Shri Maharishi Valmiki Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Soura, Srinagar, for treatment. Security personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), along with health department and civil defence teams, coordinated the rescue with assistance from local residents.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited SKIMS and was briefed by doctors on the condition of the injured. In a post on X, he said he instructed officials to ensure the best possible treatment for the hospitalised pilgrims and arrangements for their safe return upon recovery. Health Minister Sakeena Itoo also visited the hospital, interacting with the injured and directing authorities to monitor each patient's condition and provide round-the-clock specialist care.
The Amarnath Yatra began on July 3 and is scheduled to conclude on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. As of July 26, over 4,14,000 pilgrims had completed the annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine. The incident highlights the risks involved in the journey through mountainous terrain, but the coordinated response by authorities and local residents helped ensure no fatalities occurred.
