RAMBAN, JAMMU AND KASHMIR — A major scare gripped the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra on Monday morning, July 13, 2026 after a multi-vehicle pileup left at least 18 pilgrims injured. The chain-reaction collision occurred near the Chanderkote Langar Point along the highly congested Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in the Ramban district.

The incident unfolded at approximately 7:20 AM when a Pahalgam-bound Yatra convoy was navigating the highway. According to preliminary official reports, a Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) bus reportedly suffered a sudden brake failure. The vehicle lost control, striking another JKRTC bus directly ahead of it. The powerful kinetic force pushed the second bus into a Nexa XL6 passenger car, which was subsequently rammed into a private bus leading the line.

The collision caused temporary panic among the pilgrims and briefly brought traffic on the critical national highway to a standstill. However, a rapid, joint emergency rescue mission was instantly launched by the Civil Administration, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Indian Army, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

On-site medical teams stationed at the Chanderkote transit camp provided immediate first aid and stabilization. All 18 injured yatris—hailing from various Indian states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Rajasthan—were then quickly evacuated and transferred to the District Hospital Ramban for rigorous medical evaluation.

Despite the chaotic nature of the pileup, medical authorities confirmed that a major tragedy was averted. "A total of 18 people were brought to the hospital following the multi-vehicle collision," stated Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Ramban, Dr. Kamal Jee Zadoo. "Following advanced tests and clinical evaluations, all patients were found to be in stable condition with only minor bruises and cuts. No severe trauma or critical injuries were reported."

CRPF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Manish Kumar Sachar confirmed later in the day that following the medical all-clear, all 18 pilgrims were successfully discharged from the facility and accommodated into a subsequent convoy to continue their holy pilgrimage safely.

The local police department has formally taken cognizance of the accident and opened an active investigation to confirm whether mechanical negligence or inadequate vehicle spacing within the dense convoy line directly catalyzed the crash.

The Ramban stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is notorious for its challenging terrain and traffic density during peak pilgrimage season. In light of the incident, regional transit authorities are expected to immediately review convoy speed limits and strict structural spacing protocols to safeguard the thousands of devotees traveling daily toward the Amarnath base camps.