Ganderbal, July 28: A bus carrying 39 Amarnath pilgrims skidded off the road and crashed into a residential house in the Hariganwan area of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Tuesday morning. The accident occurred as the vehicle was returning from the Baltal base camp following the pilgrims’ visit to the holy cave shrine.
Local accounts indicate that the driver lost control while navigating a sharp curve along the route, causing the bus to veer off the road and strike the building. Although the structure suffered extensive damage, the collision effectively halted the vehicle’s momentum and prevented it from falling into the adjacent Sindh River. Authorities confirmed that the house was unoccupied at the time of the impact, avoiding any casualties on the ground.
Emergency medical care was initiated immediately after the crash, with injured devotees being transferred to local medical facilities and later shifted to specialized care.
“Spoke with Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, and health officials, and enquired about the health condition of Shri Amarnathji Yatra pilgrims injured in the unfortunate road accident earlier this morning at Ganiwan, Ganderbal,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha declared in an official statement. “39 pilgrims returning after darshan of Baba Barfani sustained injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at SKIMS.”
The administration confirmed that directives have been issued to ensure comprehensive medical assistance for all affected passengers.
“I pray to Lord Shiva for the speedy recovery of the injured devotees,” Sinha affirmed, maintaining that state officials are closely monitoring the treatment provided to the victims.
