Cloudburst Hits Amarnath Cave, 15 Dead; Scores Missing

At least fifteen people were killed and over thirty went missing after a cloudburst hit the mountain cave shrine of Amarnath near Baltal in central Kashmir triggering flash floods damaging pitched tents and community kitchens erected for the yatris during the 43-day pilgrimage.

An official on the ground said about 30-35 people are missing while five have been rescued.

NDRF Director General Atul Karwal told PTI that a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was based in the affected area even as two more teams from nearby locations of Barari Marg and Panchtarni have reached there.

‘’We have three teams comprising about 75 rescuers in action right now,’’ Karwal said.

Meanwhile, an official of the union territory administration said that the Amarnath yatra, which began on June 30, has been temporarily suspended in view of the tragedy, adding a decision on its resumption will be taken after rescue operations end.

The cloudburst struck around 5.30 pm amid heavy rainfall, officials said.

According to the automatic weather station at the holy cave, the area received 31 mm rainfall from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

The gushing waters hit the base camp outside the shrine, damaging 25 tents and three community kitchens where the pilgrims are served food, according to officials.

Karwal said 13 people were killed, adding all the security forces and NDRF rescuers present in the area are working to ensure that relief and rescue operations are conducted for as long as required. However, several media reports

put the death toll at 15.

According to media reports, choppers have been pressed into service to airlift the seriously wounded people to the hospitals. Senior officials of the administration are also keeping a close eye on relief and rescue operations.

ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said all the forces are working tirelessly to ensure each and every missing person is accounted for. President Ram Nath Kovind said he was distressed to know about the loss of lives in the cloudburst.

‘’My condolences to the bereaved families. Relief and rescue measures are in full swing to provide succour to those stranded. I pray and hope that the yatra be soon resumed,’’ Kovind tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed anguish over the incident.

The 43-day Amarnath yatra began after a gap of three years. In 2019, the yatra was cancelled midway ahead of the Centre abrogating Article 370 provisions of the Constitution. The pilgrimage did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic. (With PTI inputs)