All on board rescued safely; LG orders assistance
Srinagar, July 16: A sleeper bus carrying Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrims from Rajasthan was gutted in a fire after a suspected tyre burst on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) near Karol in Ramban district on Thursday. All passengers escaped safely, while the incident briefly disrupted traffic on the busy highway.
Officials said the bus was returning from the holy cave shrine when it caught fire. Police, Fire and Emergency Services personnel and highway authorities rushed to the spot and evacuated all passengers before the flames spread through the vehicle.
The fire engulfed the bus and reduced a major portion of it to ashes before firefighters brought the blaze under control. No injuries or casualties were reported.
The incident caused temporary disruption to vehicular movement on the highway as firefighting operations were carried out and the affected stretch was cleared.
Following the incident, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the situation and spoke to Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan and other senior officials. He directed the district administration to provide immediate assistance to the stranded pilgrims and ensure their safe onward journey to Rajasthan.
In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor said the bus caught fire due to a tyre burst while returning after the pilgrimage and expressed relief that all pilgrims were safe. “By Lord Shiva’s grace, all pilgrims are safe. I have directed the Ramban district administration to provide immediate assistance to the Yatris and arrange for their safe travel back to Rajasthan,” he said.
Officials said an investigation has been initiated to ascertain the exact cause of the fire. Initial indications suggest the blaze was triggered by a tyre burst, though the circumstances leading to the incident are being examined.
