The Amarnath Yatra has been temporarily suspended after the flash floods and will be resumed after the people are rescued.
The Yatra started on 30 June but due to the cloudburst on Friday evening, 15 people were killed and 40 are injured. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) informed that five people were rescued alive from the debris of the flash flood.
The officials said that a cloud burst – at 6:40 pm on Friday – causing landslide and flash floods that damaged and swept away dozens of tents and community meal setups near the Holy Cave.
More than 40 people are still missing and rescue operations – that continued overnight – are still on.
11 injured pilgrims were airlifted from the shrine – the Holy Cave – to the Baltal base camp hospital as the IMD (India Meteorological Department) office in Srinagar predicted fresh flash floods.
“Air rescue operations underway this morning. 06 pilgrims have been evacuated till now. Mil med teams receiving care & patients at Nilagrar helipad. Mountain Rescue Teams & Lookout Patrols are in process of searching for the missing,” Informed an official.
The Army has initiated the helicopter service to assist the administration in relief and rescue operations that continued overnight.
Another cloud is expected to cause light to moderate rainfall towards the Baltal-holy cave route.
Leave a Reply