The deaths and devastation near the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir were caused by a highly localised rain event rather than a cloudburst, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), news agency PTI reported.
According to meteorological experts, the temple received 31 mm of rain between 4.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on Friday, which is insufficient to be classified as a cloudburst.
Speaking with PTI, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said, “The flash floods could have been triggered due to rainfall in the higher reaches of the mountains near the Amarnath cave shrine."
A rain event is classified as a cloudburst if a meteorological station receives 100 mm of rain in one hour, according to the IMD.
During the pilgrimage, the IMD operates an automated weather station near the Amarnath cave shrine that gives weather forecasts. However, due to their inaccessibility, the neighbouring mountains lack weather monitoring stations.
As many as 16 people were killed, and tents and communal kitchens around the shrine were flooded by dirt and pebbles that fell with a surge of water following a rainstorm on Friday evening.
“It was a highly localised cloud only over the holy cave. Such rain had happened earlier this year as well,” Sonam Lotus, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Srinagar was quoted by PTI in its report.
According to an IMD scientist, the region above the Amarnath cave shrine received 28 mm of rain between 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.
Because of their tiny size in space and time, cloudbursts are difficult to forecast, according to weather experts.
A dense radar network over cloudburst-prone areas is required to monitor or issue nowcasts, or extremely high-resolution weather forecasting models are required to resolve the extent of such storms.
(With Inputs From PTI)