Jammu: A journey back from the Shri Amarnath Yatra turned tragic after a road accident on the Pathankot-Jammu National Highway claimed the life of a young pilgrim and left three others injured. The mishap occurred near the Sujanpur railway overbridge when a heavy vehicle allegedly struck the side of a bus carrying devotees returning from Jammu and Kashmir.
Police identified the deceased as 25-year-old Anshul Gehlot, a resident of Rajnagar Extension in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. He suffered fatal injuries after being thrown out of the bus during the collision. Despite being rushed to a nearby private hospital, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
According to investigators, the bus was transporting nearly 40 pilgrims who were heading home after completing the annual pilgrimage. Eyewitnesses travelling in the vehicle alleged that a trailer moving at high speed came dangerously close before hitting the bus, causing its side windows to shatter.
The force of the impact reportedly caused Anshul, who was seated towards the rear of the bus, to lose balance and fall onto the highway. Panic spread among the passengers as the driver immediately stopped the vehicle and fellow pilgrims rushed to help the injured.
Three other passengers sustained minor injuries during the incident and were provided medical treatment. Their condition is reported to be stable.
Following the accident, Sujanpur police reached the spot, cleared the damaged vehicles and initiated an investigation. Both the bus and the trailer have been taken into custody for inspection as officials examine the circumstances that led to the crash.
Police have registered a case against the trailer driver, identified as Iqbal Shah, a resident of Rajasthan’s Bikaner district. Initial findings suggest that negligent and rash driving may have contributed to the accident, though further investigation is underway.
After completing the post-mortem examination at the Civil Hospital, authorities handed over the victim’s body to his family. The incident has once again highlighted concerns over road safety for long-distance pilgrim convoys travelling on busy national highways, particularly during the annual Amarnath Yatra season.
