Despite unrest, Kashmiris rescue yatris hurt in mishap

SRINAGAR: Kashmiris demonstrated the traits of traditional hospitality and communal brotherhood on Wednesday, when they saved lives of 23 Amarnath yatris, injured in an accident.

Despite curfew and violence, locals came to the rescue of a group of pilgrims after the mini-bus they were travelling in collided with a truck at Sangam near Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. A pilgrim, Pramod Kumar from Meerut, and driver of the mini-bus, Bilal Ahmad Mir, a local from Kangan Ganderbal, died of injuries. A total of 23 people have been injured in the accident.

Even though the curfew continues, locals took the pilgrims, some in ambulances and others in private vehicles, to Bijbehara hospital, which is 5 km away from the accident spot. The injured were then referred to Srinagar hospitals — SMHS and Bone and Joint hospital.

While HT could not contact the injured pilgrims independently, video of an injured person, shot by a news channel, is being shared on social media.

In the video, a pilgrim who identifies himself as Ajit Kumar Arora from Meerut describes how the pilgrims were saved.

“After darshan, we were stuck at Baltal base camp for two days, as the yatra was suspended. We left Baltal along with other vehicles in a convoy,” Arora said in the hospital.

He said their vehicle met with an accident at Sangam and added, “I crept out of the vehicle and sought help from other pilgrim vehicles but nobody stopped.”

“I asked a local for help. Instead of one, 50 people came rushing to help. They broke open the window panes of the bus and saved us. Otherwise we would have died,” he said.

Curfew, particularly in south Kashmir, was in force for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday.

Praising Kashmiris, he said, “If you want to learn humanity, learn it from Kashmiris. Don’t talk bad about them, understand them,” he said.

This is not the first time that Kashmiris have come to the rescue to Amarnath Yatris. In 2010, people in the Valley opened their hearts and homes to stranded Amarnath yatris, providing free food and accommodation.

TWO KILLED AND 23 INJURED WHEN THE MINI-BUS THEY WERE TRAVELLING IN COLLIDED WITH TRUCK