Rescue operations are underway
The flash flood triggered by a cloudburst near the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir swept away scores of people, killing at least 16 and swamping tents and community kitchens on Friday evening.
At least 15,000 pilgrims have been shifted to the lower base camp, while more than 40 people are still missing, officials said.
The Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, or ITBP, continued the rescue operation throughout the night as they looked for missing persons in the cloudburst-affected area at the lower Amarnath Cave site. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has sent three teams comprising about 75 rescuers, an official said.
Here are the LIVE updates on the Amarnath Cloudburst:
Get NDTV UpdatesTurn on notifications to receive alerts as this story develops.
Kedarnath Yatra has been stopped in the wake of heavy rains from Sonprayag onwards keeping in view the safety of the pilgrims: Rudraprayag district administration
Army Deploys Latest Equipment To Rescue Pilgrims In Amarnath Flash Floods
In one of the major peacetime rescue operations, the Indian Army has deployed men and machinery including latest equipment to rescue the Amarnath pilgrims who were injured in the flash flood triggered by heavy rain, an Army official said on Saturday.
The rescue team rushed to the site as soon as they received the information about casualties in the cloudburst that occurred on Friday evening, the official said.
Read More Over 6,000 pilgrims leave Jammu for Amarnath base campsThe 11th batch of over 6,000 Amarnath pilgrims left the Jammu city on Saturday for the twin base camps in Kashmir even as the annual pilgrimage to the cave shine in south Kashmir was halted because of the flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall that killed at least 16 people.
The 43-day Yatra began on June 30 from the twin routes -- the traditional 48-km from Nunwan in Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag, and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir.
However, the pilgrimage has been suspended after the flash flood near the cave shrine on Friday evening swept away scores of people, swamping tents and community kitchens with mud and rocks hurtling down a hillside.
Relief and rescue operation is underway
In view of possible incidents of cloudbursts, all SDMs, Tehsildars of Ramban district have been ordered to remain on high alert
Amarnath flash floods may be due highly localised rain event, not cloudburst, says IMDThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday said the deaths and destruction near the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir were due to a highly localised rain event and not due to a cloudburst.
According to weather scientists, the shrine reported 31 mm of rainfall between 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm on Friday, which is quite low to be categorised as a cloudburst.
PM Modi, President Express Condolences
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed anguish over the loss of lives. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the central forces and Jammu and Kashmir administration to ensure swift rescue and relief.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has set up four helpline numbers where people can get information about the incident.
16 Dead In Amarnath Cloudburst16 confirmed deaths, about 40 still seem to be missing. No landslide, but rain continues, though no problem in rescue work. 4 NDRF teams with over 100 rescuers in rescue work. Besides, Indian Army, SDRF, CRPF & others continue to rescue: NDRF DG Atul Karwal
15,000 stranded pilgrims evacuatedAt least 15,000 pilgrims, who were stranded near the Amarnath holy cave in Jammu and Kashmir due to a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst, have been shifted to the lower base camp of Panjtarni, an ITBP spokesperson said on Saturday.
The flash flood near the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir swept away scores of people, killing at least 15 and swamping tents and community kitchens on Friday evening.