Sixteen Amarnath pilgrims were killed and 19 others injured in a road accident in Samba district, about 50 km from Jammu city, on late Thursday night. The accident occured when a truck carrying about 40 people skidded off the road and plunged into a nullah at Zamoorah morh.
"I don't' remember the place of accident. But the driver was driving at very high speed and he applied brakes suddenly and the truck skidded off the road. I don't remember what happened after that," said Amit, one of the injured.
Most of the deceased were returning from Baltal base camp where they had set up a community kitchen for pilgrims. They had left Baltal on July 24.
According to police, 12 victims died on the spot, while two others succumbed to injuries at the district hospital in Samba whereas other two at government medical college in Jammu, where the injured were shifted.
Samba deputy commissioner Mubarak Singh, apart from police and army personnel, immediately reached the spot on receiving the information.
Some of the deceased, who were operating langar at Baltal, had reached there on June 20 and were returning home after more than a month of community service.
{{/usCountry}}Some of the deceased, who were operating langar at Baltal, had reached there on June 20 and were returning home after more than a month of community service.
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