Ramban, Jul 10: Five pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh undertaking the annual Amarnath Yatra were injured after their vehicle skidded off the road and crashed into a roadside protection wall on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) in Udhampur district on Friday, official sources said.
The accident took place near ToldiNallah in the Samroli area between Chenani and Udhampur when the pilgrims were travelling in a Maruti Ertiga (registration number MP 13 ZV 2836). The vehicle was part of a convoy proceeding from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu to the Pahalgam base camp for the pilgrimage.
According to officials, the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road and collide with the highway’s protection wall. Six pilgrims from Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh were travelling in the vehicle.
A woman, identified as Sema Gupta, sustained critical injuries and was referred to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital, Jammu, for specialised treatment. The remaining injured pilgrims are undergoing treatment at the associated Government Medical College Hospital in Udhampur and are reported to be in stable condition. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said he had spoken to Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa after receiving information about the accident. He confirmed that the critically injured woman was immediately referred to GMC Jammu and assured that all possible assistance was being extended to the victims. “My office is in constant touch, and every possible assistance is being provided,” the minister said. Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the accident.
