At least fifteen persons were killed in a cloudburst near the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas on Friday evening, damaging 25 tents and three community kitchens, officials said.
The cloudburst struck around 5.30 pm amid heavy rainfall, they said.
The gushing waters hit the base camp outside the shrine, damaging 25 tents and three community kitchens where the pilgrims are served food, they said.
So far 15 persons have lost their lives and 40 are feared missing, as per reports from ndtv.com.
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Rescue operation by the National Disaster Response Force or the NDRF and the State Disaster Response Force or SDRF are on.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed central forces and Jammu and Kashmir administration to ensure swift operations to rescue people affected in the cloudburst.
Shah said in a Tweet in Hindi that he has spoken to J&K LG Manoj Sinha to take stock of the situation following the cloudburst that struck around 5:30 pm.”NDRF, CRPF, BSF and local administration are engaged in the rescue work. Saving people’s lives is our priority. I wish all the devotees well,” the minister said.At least eight lives have been lost in the incident, police said.
Informing about the incident, ITBP PRO Vivek Kumar Pandey said, “the Amarnath Yatra has been suspended till the situation turned normal. Likely to be resume by tomorrow.”
Expressing grief over the incident, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Sorry to hear about the cloudburst near the Amarnath Cave. Prayers for everyone caught up in it with the hope that they are all able to escape unscathed.”
“Saddened & shocked to know about the tragic cloudburst accident near the Amarnath cave. Deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,” JKPDP President Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.