Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar

Srinagar, Jul 28: At least 39 pilgrims returning from the Amarnath Yatra were injured after a speeding bus skidded off the road and crashed into a house in the Kangan area of Ganderbal district in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said.

According to officials, the accident occurred at Hariganwan when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve. The bus rammed into a house, causing extensive damage to the structure.

The impact of the collision prevented the bus from plunging into the nearby Sindh River, likely averting a major tragedy. Officials said no one was inside the house at the time of the accident.

All 39 pilgrims, who were returning after offering prayers at the Amarnath cave shrine, sustained injuries. Local residents, along with personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Indian Army, launched a swift rescue operation and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals.

A senior police officer said all the injured had been evacuated and were in stable condition. Most of them suffered minor injuries and are undergoing treatment.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spoke to the Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal and health officials to review the situation.

In a post on X, Sinha said he had enquired about the condition of the injured pilgrims, who were receiving treatment at SKIMS.

He directed health authorities to provide all necessary assistance and ensure the best possible medical care for the injured.

"I pray to Lord Shiva for the speedy recovery of the injured devotees," he said.

The annual 57-day Amarnath Yatra began on July 2 and has so far witnessed more than 4.15 lakh pilgrims offering prayers at the holy cave shrine. The pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 28.