Thirty-nine Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were injured after their bus skidded off the road near Ganiwan in Ganderbal district while returning from the cave shrine. The vehicle crashed into a house, preventing it from moving further towards the Sindh River. Most injuries were reported to be minor. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha directed officials to ensure medical care for the injured.
Amarnath Yatra Bus Accident: 39 Pilgrims Injured After Bus Skids Off Road in Ganderbal
Thirty-nine Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were injured when a bus lost control and skidded off the road in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. Most injuries were minor, and treatment and rescue operations were carried out swiftly, authorities said.
39 pilgrims were injured after a speeding vehicle skidded off the road in the Kangan area of Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir in an Amarnath Yatra bus accident on Tuesday. The accident happened when the pilgrims were returning after offering prayers at the Amarnath cave shrine, officials said.
The accident occurred near Ganiwan, when the driver allegedly lost control while negotiating a sharp turn. The bus went off the road and crashed onto the roof of a house in Hariganwan, preventing it from falling further towards the nearby Sindh River.
Authorities said the impact caused significant damage to the house, but fortunately there were no occupants inside the building when the bus crashed. Officials said the structure effectively stopped the vehicle from rolling into the river below, possibly preventing a much more serious tragedy.
Manoj Sinha reviews treatment of injured Amarnath Yatra pilgrims
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said he had talked to the Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal and senior health officials soon after the accident. He inspected the injured pilgrims and instructed the authorities to provide them with full medical assistance immediately.
The 39 pilgrims, returning after the Darshan of Baba Barfani, were injured and were being treated at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Manoj Sinha said in a post on X. He directed health officials to provide the best medical care and all the necessary support.
Most of the injured pilgrims sustained minor injuries, officials said. Emergency services coordinated transportation of the victims from the accident site to nearby healthcare facilities before many were shifted to SKIMS for further treatment, with medical teams responding quickly after the accident.
Residents and security personnel deployed for the annual pilgrimage were among the first to start rescue work after the crash. Thanks to the prompt response, the injured passengers were evacuated efficiently, enabling emergency medical teams to begin treatment without significant delays.
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Ganderbal accident highlights safety challenges during the annual pilgrimage
The Amarnath Yatra draws thousands of devotees from across India each year, and road safety and traffic management are critical during the pilgrimage season. Mountain roads in Jammu and Kashmir are often steep and have sharp turns, requiring careful driving, especially for large passenger vehicles. Officials have not identified any mechanical failure as the cause of the crash. Initial reports suggest that the driver lost control while navigating the curve, although authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The administration is closely monitoring the health condition of the injured pilgrims, while ensuring continuous medical care. Officials have not reported any deaths in connection with the incident, and the rescue operation was completed after all passengers were safely evacuated.
The accident has once again raised the issue of transport safety during one of the largest religious pilgrimages in India. As investigations continue and treatment progresses, Sprouts News will continue to follow up on the condition of the injured pilgrims and any findings released by the authorities. The incident also highlights the need for coordinated emergency response systems, and Sprouts News will be following for further developments as they are released through official channels.
