15 Amarnath yatris dead as cloudburst hits shrine area

Samaan Lateef

Srinagar July 8

Fifteen pilgrims were killed, several injured and over 50 went missing after a cloudburst in the Amarnath cave shrine area triggered flash floods on Friday.

The cloudburst occurred around 5.30 pm. At least three community kitchens and two dozen tents of pilgrims were washed away near Panchtarni in south Kashmir. Panchtarni, 130 km from Srinagar, houses one of the rest camps for the pilgrims. It is located between the base camp at Pahalgam and the last rest camp at Sheshnag Lake near the Amarnath cave shrine.

Helpline NDRF: 011-23438252/011-23438253

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Kashmir Division: 0194-2496240

Shrine Board: 0194-2313149

Rescue teams of the police, NDRF, SDRF and security forces have been pressed into service, with some using helicopters. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said the injured were being airlifted for treatment. Earlier in the day, the strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway was blocked by landslides and mud slush triggered by rain at many places.

According to the weather station at the holy cave, the area received 31 mm rainfall from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm. “It was a highly localised cloud only over the holy cave,” said Sonam Lotus, director of J&K’s meteorological department.

PM Narendra Modi took stock of the situation after the cloudburst and expressed anguish at the tragedy. “Spoke to L-G Manoj Sinha and took stock of the situation. All possible assistance is being provided to the affected,” the PM said.

Over 50 missing, 25 tents washed away

• Cloudburst around 5.30 pm in the shrine area triggers floods
• 3 community kitchens & two dozen tents washed away near Panchtarni in Kashmir
• PM Modi takes stock of situation, speaks to L-G Manoj Sinha

One-way traffic resumes on NH

Banihal/Jammu: One-way traffic has been resumed on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway after it was suspended for several hours on Friday morning following landslides triggered by heavy rain in Ramban district. “Traffic on one way of the highway has been restored and Amarnath Yatra pilgrims taking the Baltal route, who were stranded at Chanderkoot in Ramban, have been allowed to move,” an official said. The landslides and mudslides have been cleared, he said.

Boulders and mudslides block highway

The 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was blocked by shooting stones, landslides and mudslides at several places in Ramban district. Pardeep Sain, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Ramban, who is also the Yatra officer at Chanderkoot, said after heavy rain lashed the Ramban sector between 3 and 4 am, the highway was closed at Mehaar, Cafeteria Mode, Chamba, Anokhifall, Kelamode and Pantiyal. — PTI

Shah speaks to J&K L-G

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that he had spoken to J&K L-G Manoj Sinha to take stock of the situation. Shah directed central forces and the J&K administration to ensure swift operations to rescue people. “NDRF, CRPF and local administration are engaged in the rescue work,” he tweeted.