At least 16 people have been killed in the flash flood triggered by a cloudburst near Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. About 15,000 pilgrims, who were stranded near the Amarnath holy cave have been shifted to the lower base camp of Panjtarni, officials said.
The pilgrimage that began on June 30 has been suspended following the tragedy and a decision on its resumption will be taken after rescue operations get over, a senior administration official had said. “Four NDRF teams with over 100 rescuers in rescue work. Besides, Indian Army, SDRF, CRPF and others continue to rescue," NDRF Director General Atul Karwal told ANI.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has expanded its route opening and protection parties from the lower part of the holy cave up to Panjtarni, a spokesperson of the force said. He confirmed that no pilgrim is left on the track.
The BSF spokesperson said doctors and medical staff of the force treated nine patients who were critically injured in the floods. "They have been shifted to lower altitude Neelgrath base camp," he said. A BSF team is also deployed at the Neelgrath helipad to assist the pilgrims coming from the cave shrine. About 150 pilgrims stayed at the BSF camp set up in Panjtarni on Friday night and 15 patients have been airlifted to Baltal on Saturday morning, he said.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has set up helplines where people can get information about the cloudburst and missing persons. Officials said that the flash floods damaged 25 tents and three community kitchens.
-with PTI inputs
