SRINAGAR: 15 people were killed and nearly 40 people went missing after a cloudburst incident near the holy shrine of Amarnath on Friday evening caused flash floods. 25 Yatri tents prepared for the pilgrims were washed away by the flood. The road to Amarnath is completely blocked. The cloudburst occurred around 5.30 pm. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police said that water came from above and sides of the cave after it rained heavily at the upper reaches.
#WATCH | Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) rescue work under progress after a cloud burst occurred in the lower reaches of the Amarnath Cave
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2022
(Source: J&K Police) pic.twitter.com/ianHJKVxFD
"Situation is under control, rains are still going on. Looking at the hazard level, the Amarnath Yatra has been halted temporarily due to the area being inundated. If the weather remains normal and makeshift arrangements are made, then the yatra can be resumed tomorrow," said ITBP spokesperson PRO Vivek Kumar Pandey.
Many people are trapped inside the temple. The injured were airlifted to hospitals. The National Disaster Response Force has been deployed for rescue operations. A team of Central Armes Police Force and the Indian Army acted swiftly and carried out the evacuation operation, which is currently underway.
#WATCH | J&K: Massive amount of water flowing turbulently after a cloud burst occurred in the lower reaches of Amarnath cave. Rescue operation is underway at the site pic.twitter.com/w97pPU0c6k
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2022