Eight devotees en route to the Amarnath shrine were injured after a speeding truck collided with their Innova near Battal Ballian in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Friday.
The vehicle, bearing registration number UP81BN/3701, was ferrying pilgrims from the Pahalgam route when it was struck by a truck (PB65AV/9318), according to police officials.
Three of the eight passengers sustained minor injuries and were treated at the spot. The remaining five, who suffered more serious injuries, were rushed to the Government Medical College (GMC) Associated Hospital in Udhampur for further treatment. Police said a case has been registered and an investigation is under way.
This road mishap follows a tragic incident along the Baltal route earlier this week, where a woman pilgrim died and three others were injured in a landslide.
Also read: Amarnath Yatra resumes after one-day suspension
The slide occurred at Z-Morh near Upper Railpathri, sweeping several pilgrims downhill while they were making their way to the holy cave via the Baltal axis. The deceased was identified as Sona Bhai, wife of Dara Ram, a resident of Rajasthan.
Following the twin mishaps, the Amarnath Yatra was temporarily suspended on safety grounds. Officials confirmed that no fresh batch of pilgrims would be allowed to proceed from Jammu due to continued rainfall and landslides along both routes.
“More than 2.50 lakh Yatris have so far performed the Amarnath Yatra since it commenced on July 3,” a senior official said.
Registrations for the annual pilgrimage have crossed 3.5 lakh, with figures expected to rise further following the opening of special offline counters by the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
Last year, over 5.10 lakh devotees undertook the arduous journey to the cave shrine situated at 3,880 metres above sea level.
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