Amarnath Yatra – Five Pilgrims Injured in Udhampur Highway Accident
Amarnath Yatra – Five devotees travelling for the ongoing Shri Amarnathji Yatra were injured after their vehicle met with an accident on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Friday morning. One woman was reported to be in critical condition and was referred for advanced medical care.
Accident Reported Near Toldi Nallah
The incident occurred around 6.10 am near Toldi Nallah on the Udhampur-Chenani section of National Highway-44, officials said. The pilgrims were travelling in a private Ertiga vehicle registered in Madhya Pradesh when it reportedly met with an accident on the highway.
All five injured passengers were residents of Madhya Pradesh and were heading towards Kashmir to join the annual Amarnath Yatra. The circumstances that led to the accident were being examined by the authorities.
Rescue Teams Reach the Site
Personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Traffic Police, Civil Defence and Gorkha 4/3 units reached the location soon after receiving information about the crash. A rescue operation was carried out to assist the injured passengers and ensure that they were moved safely from the accident site.
Officials said the response teams coordinated with local authorities to manage traffic in the area while medical assistance was arranged for the pilgrims.
Injured Pilgrims Taken to Udhampur Hospital
The injured devotees were shifted to the Associated Hospital of Government Medical College, Udhampur, where they received immediate treatment. Medical teams assessed the condition of all five passengers, while the woman with serious injuries was later referred to Government Medical College Jammu for specialised care.
Authorities have not released further details about the identities of the injured pilgrims. Their families are expected to be informed through the concerned administration and local authorities.
Union Minister Reviews Situation
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh confirmed that he had spoken with Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa after being informed about the accident. He said the vehicle involved was travelling from Madhya Pradesh towards the Amarnath Yatra route when it met with the mishap near Toldi Nallah.
The minister said five people were injured in the incident, with one woman requiring urgent referral to Government Medical College Jammu due to the seriousness of her condition. He added that all possible assistance was being extended to the injured pilgrims and their families.
Dr Singh, who represents the Kathua-Udhampur parliamentary constituency, said his office remained in regular contact with district officials following the accident.
Yatra Continues Under Security Arrangements
The Shri Amarnathji Yatra began on July 3 and has seen more than 1.60 lakh pilgrims complete the pilgrimage so far. On Friday, more than 8,000 devotees departed from Jammu in two protected convoys towards the Nunwan and Baltal base camps.
The annual pilgrimage is being conducted under extensive security and traffic management arrangements due to the large number of devotees travelling through the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and other mountain routes.
The 57-day Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2026 is scheduled to conclude on August 28, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Authorities have urged pilgrims to follow travel advisories, remain alert during highway journeys and cooperate with security personnel along the route.