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Amarnath Cloudburst: Police Share Helpline Number, 15000 Rescued, At Least 15 Casualties,40 Missing

Amarnath Cloudburst

The cloudburst happened at 5.30 pm and caused flash floods. According to reports, five yatris have been rescued while 40 others are missing.

Around 15,000 pilgrims have been moved to safety from near the sacred cave shrine of Amarnath after a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst swept away scores of people, taking away at least 15 lives. More than 40 people are still not traceable, officials said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have tweeted and informed about the contact numbers for assistance for those affected by the massive cloud burst.

The Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, or ITBP, continued the rescue operation overnight as they looked for missing persons in the cloudburst-affected area at the lower Amarnath Cave site. Three teams of The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) consisted of about 75 rescuers, an official said.

ITBP troops are also providing first aid to those injured at Sangam Top. These pilgrims have been diverted from the holy cave to Panchgani after a flash flood near the holy cave.

Pilgrims who were safely evacuated from the affected areas have narrated horrifying accounts of the floods triggered by the cloudburst swamping tents and community kitchens with mud and large rocks. Some of the pandals that were two kilometers away from the cloudburst site were also affected, pilgrims narrated.

“Within merely 10 minutes of the disaster, eight casualties were reported. The water carried a large number of stones with it. There were approximately 15,000 pilgrims who came for the pilgrims. The pilgrims continued to come despite heavy rains,” a pilgrim said.

In an unfortunate event, at least 13 Amarnath pilgrims died and more than three dozen are missing on Friday late evening after a cloudburst at Baltal in Ganderbal which houses the base camp for the sacred pilgrimage.

The corpse of the pilgrims who died has been recovered by the National Disaster Response Force.

The cloudburst happened at 5.30 pm and caused flash floods. According to reports, five yatris have been rescued while 40 others are missing. The floods washed away tents and langers set up for the yatris.

 

 

 

“Anguished by the cloud burst near Shree Amarnath cave. Condolences to the bereaved families. Spoke to @manojsinha_ Ji and took stock of the situation. Rescue and relief operations are underway. All possible assistance is being provided to the affected.” PM Narendra Modi said on Twitter after the tragedy.
President Ram Nath Kovid also expressed condolences, he wrote “I am distressed to learn that a cloudburst near Amarnath shrine has claimed several lives. My condolences to the bereaved families. Relief and rescue measures are in full swing to provide succor to those stranded. I pray and hope that the yatra be soon resumed.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed concern  “Regarding flash flood caused by cloudburst near the cave of Baba Amarnath Ji, I have asked LG Shri. @manojsinha_  to, get information about the situation. NDRF, CRPF, BSF, and local administration are engaged in rescue work. Saving people’s lives is our priority. I wish all the devotees well. he tweeted in Hindi.
“Deeply pained by the unfortunate incident of cloudburst at Shri Amarnathji holy cave, in which precious lives have been lost. I send my heartfelt condolences to bereaved families. Rescue operation by NDRF, SDRF, BSF, Army, JKP & Shrine board admin is in progress”The official Twitter account of office of LG Jammu and Kashmir tweeted.
The 43-day Amarnath yatra began after a gap of three years on June 30. In 2019, the yatra was canceled midway ahead of the Centre abrogating Article 370 provisions of the Constitution. The pilgrimage did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic.

 

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