SRINAGAR: At least 39 Amarnath pilgrims were injured after a Yatra bus skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge near Hariganiwan in the Gund area of Ganderbal district on Tuesday, prompting a large-scale rescue operation and a review of the situation by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Officials said the bus, bearing registration number AR11 D5655, lost control near Hariganiwan while the pilgrims were returning after Darshan of Baba Barfani. Rescue teams, police personnel, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local volunteers rushed to the scene and evacuated the injured.
All 39 injured pilgrims were shifted to Sub-District Hospital, Kangan, before being referred to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) for specialised treatment, officials said.
According to officials, two pilgrims sustained head injuries but are in a stable condition. The remaining injured devotees are also reported to be stable.
Police have registered the incident and launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he spoke to the Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, and health officials to review the condition of the injured pilgrims.
In a post on X, Sinha said the 39 pilgrims injured in the road accident were undergoing treatment at SKIMS and that he had directed health authorities to provide all necessary assistance and the best possible medical care. He also prayed to Lord Shiva for the speedy recovery of the injured devotees.
