Srinagar: At least 39 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were injured when their speeding bus skidded off the road in the Kangan area of Ganderbal district on Tuesday, officials said.
The bus fell on a house at Hariganwan after the driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating a curve. The house was badly damaged, but it prevented the bus from rolling into the Sindh river. No one was in the house at the time of the accident, the officials said.
They said the 39 pilgrims, who were returning after paying obeisance at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath, suffered injuries. They were evacuated by locals and security personnel to the hospital for treatment.
Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha enquired about the condition of the injured.
“Spoke with Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, and health officials and inquired about the health condition of Shri Amarnathji Yatra pilgrims injured in the unfortunate road accident earlier this morning at Ganiwan, Ganderbal. 39 pilgrims returning after Darshan of Baba Barfani sustained injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at SKIMS,” Sinha posted on his X handle.
Later Sinha also visited the SKIMS hospital here to inquire about the condition of the injured pilgrims.
“Today, visited SKIMS, Srinagar, to inquire about the health and well-being of pilgrims of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, who were injured in the unfortunate road accident in Ganiwan, Ganderbal,” Sinha posted on his X account.
“By the grace of the Baba Amarnath, all 39 Yatris admitted this morning are currently in stable condition and responding well to treatment. I have directed the hospital administration to provide the highest standard of medical care to the injured,” he said.
Sinha said senior officials have been instructed to ensure that all necessary assistance and personal care are extended to the pilgrims and arrangements for their safe return to their hometowns are prioritised once they have recovered.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed concern over the accident of a bus carrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in Ganderbal and instructed officials to ensure that the injured are provided the best possible treatment.
“Chief Minister has expressed deep concern over the road accident at Gund, Kangan, in which several pilgrims returning to Srinagar after performing the Yatra were injured,” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a post on X.
It said Abdullah has directed that the injured be provided the best possible medical care and has deputed Health Minister Sakina Itoo to visit the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) to oversee their treatment.
