Bus carrying returning devotees crashes into a house after driver loses control on a sharp curve
At least 39 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were injured after a bus skidded off the road and crashed into a house in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Tuesday morning, officials said.
The accident took place in the Hariganwan area of Kangan when the driver reportedly lost control of the speeding bus while negotiating a sharp curve. The vehicle rammed into a house, causing extensive damage to the structure.
Officials said the house acted as a barrier, preventing the bus from plunging into the nearby Sindh River, a development that likely averted a far more serious tragedy. Fortunately, no one was inside the house at the time of the crash.
The injured pilgrims were returning after offering prayers at the holy Amarnath cave shrine. Local residents, along with security personnel, rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations immediately after the accident.
Teams from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Indian Army and local volunteers shifted all 39 injured pilgrims to nearby hospitals for treatment.
A senior police officer said all the injured were evacuated safely and are in stable condition. Most of them sustained minor injuries and are receiving medical care.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spoke with the Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal and health officials to review the condition of the injured pilgrims. In a post on X, he said all 39 devotees injured in the accident are undergoing treatment at SKIMS and directed officials to provide the best possible medical care.
“I pray to Lord Shiva for the speedy recovery of the injured devotees,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The annual 57-day Amarnath Yatra began on July 2 and has witnessed a strong turnout this year. According to officials, more than 4.15 lakh devotees have offered prayers at the holy cave shrine so far. The pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 28.
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