J&K: 13 Dead In Flash Floods Near Amarnath Shrine, Several Tents Washed Away, Rescue Ops On

Jammu Kashmir Cloudburst: NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed for rescue operations. Several tents have been washed away due to flash floods.

Water flows through a campsite following a cloudburst that hit near the base camp of the holy cave shrine of Amarnath

At least 13 pilgrims were killed, more than 50 injured and around three dozen missing as several tents were washed away after a cloudburst near the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir led to flash floods on Friday evening. NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed for rescue operations. The cloudburst hit the cave area at around 5.30 pm after heavy rains.

"Some langars and tents have come under flash floods near the holy cave, two deaths reported. Rescue operations by police, NDRF & SFs in progress. Injured being airlifted for treatment. Situation under control," ANI quoted IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, as saying. 

A senior ITBP official said that water came from above and sides of the cave after it rained heavily at the upper reaches. The rain has stopped for now, the official told ANI.

Vivek Kumar Pandey, PRO, ITBP, said several people were rescued from being washed away in the river. "Cloudburst happened in the upper reaches of Amarnath cave. Agencies were alerted. There were tents at the site, people were taken out within 10-15 minutes," ANI quoted Pandey as saying. Pandey said the Amarnath Yatra had been halted temporarily due to the area being inundated.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said NDRF, CRPF, BSF and local administration were engaged in rescue operations. "Saving people's lives is our priority," Amit Shah tweeted. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was anguished due to the cloudburst near Amarnath cave. "Condolences to the bereaved families. Spoke to LG Manoj Sinha and took stock of the situation. Rescue and relief operations are underway. All possible assistance is being provided to the affected," PM Modi tweeted.

The development comes as the tenth batch of over 6,100 Amarnath pilgrims left from Jammu for the twin base camps -- Nunwan-Pahalgam in Anantnag and Baltal in Ganderbal -- of the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine on Friday.

The annual 43-day yatra commenced on June 30. So far, over one lakh pilgrims have offered prayers at the cave shrine. The yatra is scheduled to end on August 11.

Parts of J&K have been reeling under incessant rains for the past few days. On Friday, two people were washed away in flash floods triggered by heavy rains in Rajouri district. The duo was carrying out extraction of sand from Darhali Nallah using an earthmover and a tipper near Attlee Balla area when the incident took place.

Emergency helpline numbers | NDRF: 011-23438252, 011-23438253; Kashmir Divisional Helpline: 0194-2496240; Shrine Board Helpline: 0194-2313149