Cloudburst near Amarnath cave in Jammu Kashmir, at least 5 dead


At least five people have been killed after a cloudburst took place near the Amarnath cave in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.

Cloudburst took place near Amarnath cave on Friday. (Photo: India Today)

Cloudburst took place near Amarnath cave on Friday. (Photo: India Today)

At least five people have been killed following a cloudburst near the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. The cloudburst took place at around 5:30 PM, resulting in heavy discharge of water near the cave shrine.

A sudden wave of water from above and sides of the cave, after heavy rain in the upper reaches, washed away three langars. Several tents have also been damaged. At least 4-6 people generally stay in a tent, said officials.

The injured are being airlifted for treatment and according to officials, the situation is now under control.

Rescue operations by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), national and state disaster response teams and other agencies are underway.

“Some langars and tents have come under cloud burst/flash floods at holy cave. Two deaths reported. Rescue operation by police, NDRF and SFs in progress. Injured being airlifted for treatment. Situation under control,” IGP Kashmir said in a tweet.

According to the latest weather forecast, areas such as Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Zoji La, Sheshnag, Poshpatri, Panchtarni and Sangam are expected to receive a spell of rain shower today.

The Amarnath Yatra was temporarily suspended on Tuesday as well due to bad weather.

The annual 43-day Amarnath yatra commenced from the twin base camps — Nunwan-Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag and 14-km shorter Baltal in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal — on June 30. So far, over one lakh pilgrims have offered prayers at the cave shrine. The yatra is set to end on August 11 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

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