Jammu/Srinagar: At least 36 Amarnath pilgrims suffered minor injuries on Saturday, after a bus there was another hit in a Pahalgam-bound convoy, which stopped at Chanderkot in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir for breakfast for a chain confrontation between four buses.The accident occurred around 7.15 pm after the driver of the first bus allegedly lost control due to the failure of the brake. Among the buses, pilgrims were part of a large group of 6,979, who left for a cave pilgrimage in Kashmir from a base camp in Jammu.The accident inspired a instruction from J&K Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha for extensive security measures in vehicles provoking Amarnath pilgrims. He asked the officials to ensure checks at all major places and guarantee the uninterrupted availability of food and medicines along the travel route. The government said, “With the blessings of Lord Shiva, all the devotees are safe. Our priority is the protection of all pilgrims.”36 injured were treated at Ramban District Hospital and were discharged. Most proceeded with their journey. The bus in which the driver had lost control was damaged and his pilgrims were transferred to another vehicle, Ramban SSP Kulbir Singh said, “His mind changed and decided not to go further by adding only three to four of the injured.”Ramban Deputy Commissioner Ilyas Khan said, “Most of the injuries were minor and all the affected yatras were discharged after first aid.” LG Sinha spoke to Khan to provide all the necessary assistance to the injured pilgrims.According to SSP Singh, the private bus that lost control was from Madhya Pradesh. SSP Singh said, “The travel convoy stopped for breakfast in Chanderkot Langer (a community kitchen that provides free food to devotees).”Officials said that earlier in the morning, 6,979 pilgrims left the base camp in heavy rains in Jammu. Officials said this is the fourth Amarnath batch as the month -long journey started from July 3. 5,196 men, 1,427 females, 24 children and 332 others, including monks, were left in two convoys between 3.30 pm and 4 pm, the officials said.(Input from Nasir Gani in Srinagar)
