A speeding bus carrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims skidded off the road and crashed into a house on Tuesday, injuring 39 people [1].

The accident occurred during the annual pilgrimage, highlighting the ongoing safety risks associated with transporting large numbers of devotees through the mountainous terrain of Jammu and Kashmir.

The incident took place in the Kangan area of Hariganiwan town, located within the Ganderbal district [1], [3]. According to reports, the driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating a curve, causing the bus to skid off the road and fall onto a residential structure [1], [2].

Local rescue personnel, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police, responded to the scene to assist the injured passengers [1], [3]. Emergency teams worked to evacuate the 39 injured pilgrims from the wreckage [1], [2].

This event follows another separate road collision in the Ramban district, where 18 pilgrims were injured in a multi-vehicle accident [4]. The frequency of these incidents underscores the volatility of the region's road infrastructure during peak pilgrimage seasons.

Authorities said the Ganderbal crash was due to excessive speed, noting that the driver's inability to maintain control on the curve led directly to the vehicle leaving the roadway [1], [2].

“39 pilgrims were injured”

The recurring nature of these accidents—including the separate collision in Ramban—points to a systemic challenge in managing high-volume transit on narrow, winding mountain roads. As the Amarnath Yatra draws thousands of visitors, the combination of driver error and difficult geography continues to pose a significant public safety risk for pilgrims.