At least 20 Amarnath yatris were injured in a road accident at Qazigund in Kulgam in south Kashmir.
According to reports, the bus they were travelling in was hit by a tipper at Badragund crossing on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, 20 yatris suffered injuries. Except two, most yatris received minor injuries in the accident. The injured were shifted to Government Medical College Anantnag for medical aid.
The administration has directed the hospital to provide the best possible medical aid to the injured. Last week, 16 yatris died in flash floods at Batlal en route to the Amarnath cave.
The administration launched a rescue operation and mobilised all resources to provide relief to the affected yatris. The teams of NDRF, SDRF, Police, ITBP and IAF participated in the rescue and relief operation. The yatra was halted due to bad weather for some days during which time the Army prepared an alternative route to the cave where the ice stalagmite resembles the Shiva Linga, which waxes from May to August and gradually wanes thereafter. This lingam is said to grow and shrink with the phases of the moon, reaching its height during the summer festival. The cave is considered an abode of Lord Shiva by Hindus.
Baltal is located around 80km from Srinagar. The yatra started on June 30 and will continue for 43 days. In the last two years, the annual pilgrimage was disallowed due to the Covid pandemic. This year a record number of eight lakh yatris are expected to take part in the yatra.
The devotees come from all over India for obeisance at the Holy Cave located 45km in from Pahalgam in Anantnag in south Kashmir. It takes a few days of trekking for the yatris to reach the cave from Pahalgam. Many pilgrims prefer to take the shorter and less arduous route from Baltal to reach the cave.