At least 36 Amarnath pilgrims, including children, suffered minor injuries on Saturday morning as five buses of a Pahalgam-bound convoy collided with each other in Ramban district, officials said.
Sharing details of the incident, Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alyas Khan told PTI, "The last vehicle of the Pahalgam convoy lost control and hit stranded vehicles at the Chanderkot Langer site, damaging four vehicles and causing minor injuries to 36 Yatris." Khan also visited the hospital where the injured pilgrims were taken after the accident.
According to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Ramban, Kulbir Singh, the convoy was stopping for pilgrims to have breakfast when the last bus hit the four buses.
“Prima facie, it appeared to be a case of brake failure. After the last bus hit the stationary convoy, it triggered a chain reaction, and in the process, four buses were hit,” Singh said, while adding, "The majority of them suffered minor injuries and were treated at the district hospital. They want to resume their pilgrimage, and buses are being arranged for them. Three to four pilgrims may not be able to continue their pilgrimage.”
A convoy of over 110 vehicles had left Jammu this morning for the cave shrine. Further investigation into the accident is underway, Singh added.
On Saturday, the fourth batch of 6,979 pilgrims, including 5,196 men, 1,427 women, 24 children, 331 sadhus and sadhvis, and one transgender person, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in two separate convoys between 3.30 am and 4:05 am amid tight security, officials said.
While 4,226 pilgrims left in 161 vehicles for Nunwan base camp for the 48-kilometre traditional Pahalgam route, 2,753 pilgrims were headed for the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre Baltal route in 151 vehicles, they said.
With the fresh departure, a total of 24,528 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for the Valley since Wednesday, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the yatra.
The yatra this year is taking place under tighter security in view of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists lost their lives.
The Bhagwati Nagar base camp has been put under a multi-tier security cover. More than 3.5 lakh people have registered online for the pilgrimage so far.
Thirty-four accommodation centres have been set up across Jammu, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are being issued to the pilgrims. Twelve counters have been set up for an on-the-spot registration of pilgrims.
