Six people, including five Amarnath Yatra pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, were injured in a road accident on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district early on Saturday. The accident occurred when the vehicle they were travelling in rammed into a dumper truck parked along the roadside near Jakhani, officials said. The vehicle was part of a larger convoy carrying 3,632 pilgrims that had departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for Kashmir to undertake the annual Amarnath Yatra.
The pilgrims were heading towards the holy Amarnath cave shrine to offer prayers when the accident took place at around 5 am. According to officials, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle before it collided with the parked truck. The impact left five pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh and the driver, who is a resident of Ganderbal district, injured. Authorities responded promptly to the incident and shifted all six injured persons to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Udhampur for medical treatment.
Officials said the condition of the injured was being monitored and necessary medical care was being provided. The accident briefly drew the attention of authorities overseeing the annual pilgrimage, which is conducted under extensive security and logistical arrangements due to the large number of devotees travelling through the region. Following the incident, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spoke to Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa and senior medical officials to enquire about the condition of the injured pilgrims.
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He directed the district administration and healthcare authorities to ensure that the victims receive all necessary assistance and the best possible treatment for their speedy recovery. In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor said he had instructed officials to extend every possible support to the injured devotees. “I pray to Baba Barfani for the safety, well-being and smooth journey of all devotees,” Sinha said, expressing his concern for the pilgrims and wishing them a safe pilgrimage.
The Amarnath Yatra is one of Hinduism’s most significant annual pilgrimages, attracting thousands of devotees from across India every year. Pilgrims travel under organised convoys escorted by security forces as they make their way to the cave shrine located in the Himalayas. Authorities continue to maintain heightened security and traffic management along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway to facilitate the smooth movement of pilgrims during the yatra. Officials are also investigating the circumstances that led to Saturday’s accident while ensuring that the pilgrimage proceeds without disruption.
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