Amarnath Yatra: 25 Pilgrims Injured as 4 Convoy Buses Collide in J&K’s Ramban
At least 25 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims sustained injuries on Saturday after four buses in their convoy collided with each other near the Chanderkote langar site in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district. Officials confirmed the multi-vehicle pile-up was triggered by a brake failure in one of the buses.
The incident occurred as a convoy of vehicles was making its way to the Pahalgam base camp for the annual pilgrimage. According to authorities, the driver of one bus lost control, leading to a chain-reaction collision involving three other buses that were part of the escorted convoy.
Rescue teams from the local police and health department were rushed to the spot immediately. The injured devotees were promptly shifted to the District Hospital Ramban for medical attention.
Deputy Commissioner of Ramban, Ilyas Khan, visited the hospital to inquire about the condition of the injured. “Due to brake failure, four vehicles collided with each other. At least 20-25 yatris are injured. Most of the injuries are minor, and all the affected yatris are being discharged after receiving first aid,” he stated.
Khan also confirmed that the administration has made arrangements for the onward journey of the affected pilgrims. “We have arranged replacement buses for the yatris. Those discharged from the hospital will also be accommodated and continue their journey,” the DC added.
The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, a significant pilgrimage for Hindus, began on July 3 this year and is scheduled to conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima. So far, over 26,800 devotees have completed the ‘darshan’ at the holy cave shrine, which is situated at a high altitude of 3,888 metres.
Pilgrims undertake the arduous journey via two main routes: the traditional 46-km Pahalgam track and the shorter, steeper 14-km Baltal route. The convoy involved in the accident was en route to the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp.
This incident comes as thousands of pilgrims continue their journey. On Saturday, another batch of 6,979 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the Kashmir Valley under tight security, comprising 312 vehicles. Of these, 4,226 were heading for the Pahalgam base camp.
