Keeping its tradition of humanity and hospitability alive, people from Kashmir risked their lives and rescued 28 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims hailing from different Indian states injured in a road accident during the wee hours in South Kashmir on Wednesday.Eyewitnesses told CNS that two persons including a pilgrim and Kashmiri driver died while 28 Yatri’s injured when a bus (JK02A-5365) from Baltal to Jammu collided with a truck (JK01J-6159) Halmulla, Sangam in Bijbehara town. Witnesses added that shortly after the fateful accident, large number of locals rushed to spot and took care of the wounded pilgrims. The locals arranged private vehicles and rushed them to hospitals defying curfew that was in vogue in wake of violent incidents that have claimed more than 30 lives so far across Kashmir.We are so grateful to these Kashmiri people who came to our instant help and rescued us. They not only shifted us to hospitals but also paid for our medical treatment,” a Yatri Pawan Kumar admitted in Bones and Joint Hospital from Meeruth Uttar Pradesh told CNS.
Another Yatri Rajeev Kumar Sharma admitted in SMHS Hospital Srinagar was also grateful to locals for saving his life. “These locals saved our lives otherwise we had been dead as the road was deserted,” he said.The volunteers from ‘Poor Help’ NGO offered every kind of help to these wounded Yatri’s. “It is our duty and responsibility to help human beings. We did everything to feel them comfortable,” said a volunteer Sheikh Tasaduq Hussain.Confirming the incident, a police official said that the bus was carrying 30 passengers including the local driver. “The driver and a pilgrim died on spot while 28 others are being treated in different hospitals,” the official said and identified the deceased as Parmood Kumar of Uttar Pradesh and driver Hilal Yousuf Mir (19) of Central Kashmir’s Kangan town.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has hailed the exemplary effort of the residents of Halmulla, Bijbehara and the adjoining areas who, amid trying circumstances, helped and evacuated the Amarnath Yatris injured in a road accident.The Chief Minister while expressing grief and sorrow over the death of a local driver and a pilgrim in the accident, said keeping in with Kashmir’s glorious traditions of communal harmony and brotherhood, the locals of Bijbehara, who themselves were mourning the tragic deaths in recent law and order situation, ignored their personal grief and rushed to the accident spot to rescue the injured pilgrims and shift them to the hospitals.“This is the uniqueness of Kashmir’s distinct and valued culture, we must all fight to protect,” Mehbooba said and added that it has been seen over the years that while Kashmiris have themselves underwent countless tragedies, they have upheld the highest traditions of brotherhood and amity amid difficult times. “I salute my people for this humanitarianism and compassion and expect to see the same flourishing in future,” she said. (CNS)