As the first batch of pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy Amarnath Shrine on Sunday, a tragic accident happened near Chandanwari in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The incident left at least two persons injured.
In a post on X, the Border Security Force (BSF) said, "Today, a van carrying Shri Amarnath Ji Yatris met with an accident near Chandanwari. The pilgrims sustained serious head injuries & were promptly evacuated by the BSF QRT (Quick Response Team) to a nearby hospital.” The BSF further added, "The quick response of BSF saved the precious lives of the pilgrims."
Although the BSF did not mention the number of people injured in the accident, visuals shared show two of the pilgrims, including a woman been admitted to the hospital. The identities of the injured have not been confirmed yet.
Second batch of pilgrims depart
Earlier today, the second batch of pilgrims left for the Amarnath yatra from the Pantha Chowk base camp amid tightened security. Visuals from the site showed queues of cars crossing the Chowk base camp's police checkpoints.
Meanwhile, over 13,000 pilgrims visited the holy cave shrine of Amarnath on the first day of the annual pilgrimage in the Himalayan range in south Kashmir. The pilgrimage is taking place under stringent security measures. The 52-day pilgrimage which began on Saturday (June 29) will conclude on August 19.
The first batch of pilgrims departed from the twin base camps in Baltal and Nunwan to begin their journey to the cave shrine, situated at an altitude of 3,880 meters. The Yatra commenced early in the morning on Saturday from two tracks: the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the shorter, but steeper, 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal. "As many as 13,736 pilgrims visited the cave shrine to have darshan of the naturally formed ice lingam on the first day," an official said.
(With ANI Inputs)
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