Amarnath Yatra: 47 pilgrims safe after bus catches fire near Ramban on Jammu-Srinagar Highway

A major tragedy was averted during the ongoing Shri Amarnath Yatra after a bus carrying pilgrims caught fire on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near the Karol Langar point in Ramban district on Thursday evening.

It was all due to the alertness and presence of mind of the driver of the bus and the swift response of rescue agencies; all 47 pilgrims on board were evacuated safely before the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames.

“I have reviewed the situation with senior officials and Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, after a Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrim bus from Rajasthan, returning after Darshan caught fire at Karol due to a tyre burst. 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”, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha posted on X after the incident.

The sleeper bus, bearing registration number RJ27PC9921, was travelling from Srinagar to Jammu after the pilgrims had completed the annual pilgrimage via the Baltal route. The vehicle was carrying 47 pilgrims along with the driver and two helpers, taking the total number of occupants to 50.

According to officials, the incident occurred at around 4:30 pm when one of the bus’s tyres suddenly burst near the Karol Langar point. Eyewitnesses said smoke started billowing from the rear portion of the bus immediately after the tyre burst, and within seconds, flames spread rapidly, turning the vehicle into a fireball.

As panic gripped the passengers, the driver acted swiftly by stopping the bus on the roadside and instructing everyone to disembark immediately. With the assistance of the conductor and helpers, all passengers were evacuated safely before the fire intensified.

Within minutes, the bus was completely gutted in the blaze.

Soon after receiving information about the incident, teams from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army, CRPF, SDRF, Quick Response Team (QRT) and the Fire and Emergency Services Department rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. Firefighters managed to douse the flames, although by then the bus had been reduced to ashes.

The incident briefly disrupted traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway before vehicular movement was restored.

Officials confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident. However, all the luggage, clothes, valuables and important documents belonging to the pilgrims were destroyed in the fire.

The district administration shifted the stranded pilgrims to a safe location and made arrangements for food, accommodation and other essential facilities. Authorities later arranged alternative buses to transport them to Jammu.

Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ilyas Khan said all 50 occupants, including the pilgrims, driver and helpers, were rescued safely.

“The bus caught fire after a tyre burst while it was on its way to Jammu carrying Shri Amarnath pilgrims. There has been no loss of life. Police, Army, CRPF, QRT, SDRF and Fire and Emergency Services teams immediately launched rescue operations. Alternative buses have been arranged to send the pilgrims to Jammu,” he said.

Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident. Preliminary findings suggest that the fire may have been triggered by a short circuit following the tyre burst, though the exact cause will be ascertained after a detailed probe.

The incident triggered panic among the pilgrims for a brief period, but the timely evacuation and prompt response of the rescue agencies ensured that a potentially devastating tragedy was averted.