GG News Bureau
Ramban, 5th July: At least 36 Amarnath pilgrims suffered minor injuries on Saturday morning after five buses in a convoy collided near Chanderkoot in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district. The vehicles were en route from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp to Pahalgam, one of the two main routes to the Amarnath cave shrine.
The incident occurred around 8:00 am along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway when the last bus in the convoy lost control due to brake failure and rammed into stationary vehicles near the Chanderkot langar (community kitchen) site. The impact damaged four other buses and caused chaos at the busy pilgrim point.
Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alyas Khan confirmed the mishap and said that 36 Yatris sustained minor injuries. “Government officials already present at the site quickly shifted the injured to the district hospital in Ramban. All were given first aid and later discharged,” he added.
Ramban Medical Superintendent Dr. Sudarshan Singh Katoch assured that the pilgrims received prompt care and were declared fit to travel. Senior police officers also visited the hospital to oversee treatment and directed the medical staff to provide all necessary support.
Following the incident, the damaged buses were replaced, and the Yatris resumed their journey in alternative vehicles.
The accident took place as the fourth batch of 6,979 pilgrims — including 5,196 men, 1,427 women, 24 children, 331 sadhus and sadhvis, and one transgender pilgrim — left the Jammu base camp in two separate convoys between 3:30 and 4:05 am. Of these, 4,226 were headed to the Nunwan base camp via the traditional 48-kilometre Pahalgam route, while 2,753 pilgrims opted for the shorter 14-kilometre Baltal route.
Despite the scare, the yatra continues smoothly, with authorities maintaining high alert along both routes to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims.
