RAMBAN/JAMMU, July 17, 2026 — A major tragedy was averted on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Thursday when a sleeper bus carrying 47 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims caught fire. Thanks to the prompt response of security forces and the driver, all passengers were evacuated safely. Meanwhile, the holy pilgrimage continues smoothly, with over 19,000 devotees paying obeisance at the Himalayan cave shrine on the same day.
Narrow Escape on the Highway
The incident occurred near Karool in the Ramban district around 4:15 PM. The Rajasthan-registered sleeper coach (RJ27PC-9921) was returning to Jammu from Srinagar after the pilgrims had completed their darshan.
According to officials and eyewitnesses, the vehicle’s tyre burst, which reportedly sparked a fire. Smoke was immediately noticed, prompting a swift evacuation. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel deployed at Karol, alongside the driver, immediately helped the passengers disembark before the vehicle was entirely engulfed in flames.
Personnel from the J&K Police, Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, and local Civil Quick Response Team (QRT) volunteers rushed to the scene to launch firefighting operations. While all 47 pilgrims, the driver, and the conductor escaped unhurt, the bus and the passengers’ belongings were reduced to ashes. During the firefighting efforts, a fire brigade official, Manohar Kumar, sustained a leg fracture and was shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Jammu.
Administration Steps In
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha quickly reviewed the situation and issued directives to the district administration to provide comprehensive support.
Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alyas Khan and SSP Arun Gupta arrived at the site to oversee the rescue. The administration relocated the stranded pilgrims to the Amarnath Yatra camp in Ramban, provided them with essential items including footwear and clothing, and arranged alternate buses to ensure their safe onward journey back to Rajasthan.
“By Lord Shiva’s grace, all pilgrims are safe,” LG Sinha stated in a post on X, confirming that the Ramban administration had been instructed to facilitate their immediate needs and travel.
Yatra Marches On: Tally Crosses 3.43 Lakh
Despite the incident on the highway, the 57-day Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra continues seamlessly. On Thursday, 19,357 pilgrims offered prayers at the 3,888-metre-high cave shrine from both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes.
With this latest batch, the total number of pilgrims who have visited the holy cave since the Yatra began on July 2 has surpassed 3.43 lakh. The journey remains highly secure, with fresh batches continually departing from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu amid chants of “Bam Bam Bhole” and “Har Har Mahadev.”
Published by True Roots Media Network