16 killed in cloudburst near Amarnath cave; 1,500 pilgrims evacuated

At least 16 people were killed and tents and community kitchens near the shrine were swamped with mud and rocks that came hurtling down with a gush of water after a spell of rain.

Here are the helpline numbers:  NDRF: 011-23438252 011-23438253

Kashmir Divisional Helpline: 0194-2496240

Shrine Board Helpline: 0194-2313149

The cloudburst struck around 5.30 pm amid heavy rainfall, they said. The gushing waters hit the base camp outside the shrine, damaging 25 tents and three community kitchens where the pilgrims are served food, they said.

At least 16 persons were killed in the incident even as police, army and ITBP personnel launched a rescue operation, the officials said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed Central forces and Jammu and Kashmir administration to ensure swift operations to rescue people.

Shah said in a Tweet in Hindi that he has spoken to J&K LG Manoj Sinha to take stock of the situation following the cloudburst that struck around 5:30 pm. “NDRF, CRPF, BSF and local administration are engaged in the rescue work. Saving people’s lives is our priority. I wish all the devotees well,” the minister said.

What IMD says

The India Meteorological Department on Friday said that the deaths and destruction near the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir were due to a highly localised rain event.

According to weather scientists, the shrine reported 31 mm of rainfall between 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm on Friday.

“It was a highly localised cloud-only over the holy cave. Such rain had happened earlier this year as well. No flash flood,” said Sonam Lotus, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Srinagar.

The region above the Amarnath cave shrine received 28 mm of rainfall between 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm, a scientist from the IMD said. Lotus said there was a possibility of a severe rainfall event in the higher reaches of the mountain near the cave shrine of Amarnath.

1,500 pilgrims evacuated

At least 15,000 stranded pilgrims have been shifted to the lower base camp of Panjtarni, an ITBP spokesperson said on Saturday. The border guarding force has also expanded its route opening and protection parties from lower part of the holy cave up to Panjtarni, he said.

The yatra that began on June 30 has been suspended following the tragedy and a decision on its resumption will be taken after rescue operations get over, a senior administration official had said.

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