Srinagar, July 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
At least 30 Amarnath pilgrims were injured after a bus carrying devotees skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Tuesday, officials said.
The accident occurred near the S-Mode area of Hariganiwan in the Gund area when the driver of the bus, carrying nearly 40 pilgrims, reportedly lost control of the vehicle. The bus, bearing registration number AR11 D5655, veered off the road and fell into a gorge.
Police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), rescue teams and local volunteers rushed to the accident site and launched a rescue operation. The injured pilgrims were evacuated and shifted to the Sub-District Hospital in Kangan for treatment.
According to officials, two of the injured sustained head injuries but were reported to be in stable condition. The remaining injured passengers also suffered non-life-threatening injuries and are stated to be stable.
Police have registered the incident and initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, the annual Amarnath Yatra continues with a steady flow of pilgrims to the holy cave shrine, located at an altitude of 3,880 metres in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Officials said 11,996 devotees offered prayers at the shrine via the Baltal route on Monday, taking the cumulative number of pilgrims who have completed the pilgrimage since the Yatra began on July 3 to 4,26,339.
Preparations are also underway for the traditional religious ceremonies associated with the Chhari Mubarak, the holy mace of Lord Shiva. The Bhoomi Pujan, Navgrah Puja and Dwajarohan rituals are scheduled to be performed in Pahalgam on July 29 by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji. On its return journey, the Chhari Mubarak will visit the Martand Sun Temple at Mattan and the Ganeshbal temple near Pahalgam for customary rituals.
Officials also said another batch of 3,029 pilgrims departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the Baltal base camp in a secured convoy on Tuesday. Pilgrimage through the traditional Pahalgam route remained suspended for the day to facilitate track maintenance.
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