SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Jul 9 (NNN-PTI) – At least 10 people were killed and 40 others feared missing yesterday, after a cloudburst hit near a Hindu cave shrine, in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
“Cloudburst occurred at lower Amarnath cave, at around 5:30 p.m. local time,” a disaster management official said. “Three community kitchens have been washed away, due to heavy flow of water near the shrine.”
According to National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director-General, Atul Karwal, 10 casualties have been reported.
“One NDRF team is always deployed near the holy cave, it immediately engaged in the rescue work. One more team has been deployed and another is on its way. 10 casualties were reported, so far, and three rescued alive,” Karwal was quoted by local media as saying.
Reports said the injured were being airlifted for treatment.
An annual pilgrimage to the Hindu cave shrine of Amarnath, perched high in the Himalayas, located 3,888 metres above sea level, began last week.
Two trek routes lead to the shrine, one from Baltal, about 110 km north of Srinagar city, the region’s summer capital, while another one from Pahalgam, about 100 km south of Srinagar.
The cave houses the ice stalagmite, referred by Hindus as Shiv Lingam (the phallus of Lord Shiva).
During the beginning of the pilgrimage, the ice stalagmite stands 4.6 metres high, following which it starts melting, owing to the high influx of pilgrims inside the cave.
The Authorities have set up bunkers and parked scores of bullet-proof bunkers, along the pilgrimage, right from Jammu to the shrine, as part of heightened security cover, to ensure the pilgrimage is carried out without any hindrance.– NNN-PTI
