36 hurt in Amarnath convoy pile-up involving 5 buses
Jammu, July 6 -- At least 36 Amarnath pilgrims were injured after five buses of the Pahalgam-bound convoy collided with each other at Chanderkote in Ramban district on Saturday morning, officials said. The accident occurred after the driver of the last bus of the convoy rammed his bus from the rear, said Ramban SSP Kulbir Singh.
"The convoy had stopped for breakfast. After the last bus hit the stationary convoy, it triggered a chain reaction and in the process four buses were hit. Prima facie, it appeared to be a case of brake failure," the SSP said. "Majority of them suffered minor injuries and they were being treated at the district hospital. They want to resume their pilgrimage and buses are being arranged for them. Three to four pilgrims may not be able to continue their pilgrimage," he said.
Deputy commissioner Ilyas Khan visited the hospital and enquired about the condition of the injured pilgrims. Commandant of the CRPF's 84 battalion, N Ranbir Singh, said the accident occurred at 7.25 am. "The injured are from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan."
"Most of the injured pilgrims are stable and out of danger. Some pilgrims, with minor injuries, proceeded towards Pahalgam in the spare buses immediately arranged by the district administration," he said.
Ramban medical superintendent Sudarshan Singh Katoch said 10 of the injured pilgrims were discharged after being administered first aid and the rest after the conduct of necessary tests. The convoy left for its destination early in the morning after the damaged buses were replaced, the officials said.
Earlier in the day, the fourth batch of 6,979 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in two separate convoys.
Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha said the priority was safety of all pilgrims....
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