After the destructive cloudburst near the holy Amarnath Cave in Jammu and Kashmir, the Amarnath foot yatra has been temporarily suspended on Friday evening. An ITBP official informed that over 30 to 40 people are still missing and that the rescue operation has been intensified.
Speaking to ANI, Vivek Kumar Pandey, PRO, ITBP said, "Rescue operation has been intensified, around 30-40 people are still missing. The weather is clear near #Amarnath cave. The injured people have been brought to base using helicopters. Yatra is still on hold & we're advising people not to move ahead."
Additionally, BSF MI-17 chopper been pressed into action to air transport injured persons and dead bodies as well from Neelgrah helipad/ Baltal to BSF Camp Srinagar for further treatment or further ferrying bodies to their homes.
An official from BSF that nine bodies have been airlifted from Neel Grath to Srinagar by BSF MI-17 Chopper.
According to ANI, most of the pilgrims who were stranded near the holy cave area have been shifted to Panjtarni.
The Indo-Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) has also expanded its route opening and protection parties from lower holy cave. The report suggest no pilgrim is left on track and over 15,000 people are safely shifted.
At least 16 persons have so far reportedly been killed and 40 are feared missing in a cloudburst near the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas Friday evening, damaging 25 tents and three community kitchens, officials said.
A video of the cloudburst has surfaced, in which the flood of Pali is seen flowing rapidly. According to ITBP, water came from above the cave after heavy rains in the upper reaches.
