GANDERBAL (Jammu & Kashmir) — At least 30 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were injured on Tuesday morning after their speeding bus lost control on a sharp bend and plunged into a gorge in the Kangan area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
The vehicle was navigating a tricky stretch known as the "S-Mode" in the Hariganwan area of Gund when the driver lost control, causing the bus to skid off the road and crash directly onto a residence situated in the gorge below.
According to local authorities, the collision severely damaged the vacant house. However, the structure unexpectedly served as a crucial barrier, arresting the vehicle's momentum and preventing it from rolling further down into the fast-flowing Sindh River nearby. Officials confirmed that no occupants were inside the home at the time of the mishap.
Emergency response teams were dispatched immediately after receiving word of the crash. A joint rescue operation was launched by the Gund Police—led by Station House Officer (SHO) Rayees Ahmad—alongside personnel from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF 118 Battalion), 2 Assam Rifles, 21 Rashtriya Rifles, dedicated Yatra Police, and local residents.
All 30 injured pilgrims were safely extricated from the wreckage and rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment. First responders noted that while the impact was severe, the majority of the passengers escaped with minor injuries and are currently in stable condition.
Local police have initiated an enquiry into the incident to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding the crash. Further details regarding the medical status of the passengers are awaited.
