13 killed in Amarnath cloudburst tragedy, three dozen missing
Darpan News Desk IANS, 08 Jul, 2022 12:37 PM
Srinagar, July 8 (IANS) At least 13 yatris were killed, five others injured and around three dozen missing after a cloudburst near the Amarnath cave shrine on Friday evening caused flash floods, officials said.
J&K DGP Dilbag Singh said 13 pilgrims were killed in the cloudburst that hit the area around 5.30 p.m.
At least three langars (community kitchens) and 25 Yatri tents were washed away in flash floods caused by the cloudburst. Sources said that around three dozen people are missing in this tragedy and efforts are on to locate them.
Rescue teams were immediately rushed to the spot, some using helicopter services. The rescue operation is still going on and the authorities are trying to ascertain the exact casualties or damage caused by the calamity. However, as darkness has engulfed the area, rescue operation are being impeded.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar had earlier told reporters that rescue operations by various agencies is underway, the situation is under control and the injured are being airlifted for treatment.
Officials said that following the cloudburst, water surged above/the sides of the cave after heavy rains at the upper reaches.
Earlier on Friday, the strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway was blocked by landslides and mud slush triggered by rain at many places, affecting passage of pilgrims to the two base camps in the Kashmir Valley.
The yatra was flagged off on June 30 after remaining suspended for two years due to the Covid pandemic, and so far, over one lakh devotees have completed the pilgrimage.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi noted that the report of the three-member mediation panel, headed by former apex court judge Justice F.M.I. Kalifulla, failed resolve the dispute amicably.
Saravana Bhavan was charged with being "guilty of having served defective food," and prayed for a compensation of Rs. 60 lakh for "deficiency in service" and another Rs. 30 lakh for ill-health and mental agony.
Most people in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the Valley, believe that Article 35A of the Constitution is going amid reports that the idea of dividing the state into three union territories of Jammu, Valley and Ladakh is also being toyed with.
Sikh devotees and Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) members participate in International 'Nagar Kirtan' (religious procession) organised to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, from Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan's Nankana Sahib district cross the Attari-Wagah border proceeding towards India, in Punjab's Attari on Aug 1, 2019.
