J&Ok has been recording heavy rain these days within the moist season’s wake. Flash floods and landslides killed at the least three folks within the Jammu area Friday.
Rescue groups of NDRF, SDRF, J&Ok police and army items rushed to the bottom camp near the shrine and began digging via mounds of particles after the rain stopped, searching for survivors and our bodies. Helicopters have been aiding the rescue effort and airlifting the injured to hospitals.
5 our bodies have been retrieved thus far, three amongst them have been girls, ITBP spokesman Vivek Pandey stated. “The rescue op will proceed via the evening,” he stated, although darkness might impede the operation. Based on a J&Ok official, the yatra has been suspended and a choice on its resumption can be taken after rescue operations are over.
PM Narendra Modi led a nation in condoling the deaths. “Anguished by the cloudburst close to Shree Amarnath cave. Condolences to the bereaved households. Spoke to Manoj Sinha ji and took inventory of the scenario. Rescue and reduction operations are underway. All attainable help is being offered to the affected,” he tweeted.
Union house minister Amit Shah took notice of the scenario. In a tweet, he stated: “Concerning the flash flood attributable to cloudburst close to the cave of Baba Amarnath ji, I’ve spoken to LG Shri @manojsinha_ ji and inquired in regards to the scenario. NDRF, CRPF, BSF and native administration are engaged within the rescue work. Saving folks’s lives is our precedence. I want all of the devotees properly.”Based on NDRF DG Atul Karwal, the cloudburst was reported round 5.30pm, whereas a senior ITBP official stated water rushed down closely from above and sides of the cave in addition to a nallah (a rain-fed stream) after it rained closely on the higher reaches. The water surge within the nallah subsided after the rain stopped.
Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha stated he briefed PM Modi and residential minister Shah. “Hon’ble PM & Hon’ble HM has assured all the assistance,” he tweeted. “Our precedence is to avoid wasting the lives of individuals. Directions have been issued to supply all needed help to pilgrims. I’m carefully monitoring the scenario.”
Ganderbal district chief medical officer Dr Afroza Shah stated the precise variety of casualties just isn’t identified but, however 13 folks have been feared useless. “The injured are being given first assist and people with important accidents are being airlifted,” she stated.
Native officers feared that the toll might rise. In an identical tragedy triggered by unhealthy climate, at the least 250 Amarnath yatris died in 1996.
Earlier on Friday, the strategic Jammu-Srinagar nationwide freeway was blocked by landslides and dirt slush triggered by rain at many locations, affecting the passage of pilgrims to the 2 base camps within the Kashmir Valley. The 43-day yatra was flagged off on June 30 and over one lakh devotees have accomplished the pilgrimage thus far.
Worshippers strategy the Amarnath cave, at 13,500 ft above sea degree, via two routes: a standard one through the southern hill resort of Pahalgam south Kashmir’s Anantnag that takes three days, or a one-day-long journey via Baltal in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, which is 14km shorter. The cave has a naturally fashioned ice stalagmite Shiva lingam.
It’s an arduous trek via forested mountain passes and meadows with a view of snowy peaks. Some pilgrims trip ponies or wood litters carried by porters, whereas some use helicopter providers to pay fast obeisance.
The cave is roofed with snow a lot of the 12 months apart from a brief interval in summer season when it’s open for the pilgrims.
Elsewhere within the Jammu area, a 60-year-old man was buried beneath the particles of a landslide in Poonch district’s Mandi space, whereas two folks have been washed away after heavy rain brought about flash floods in Rajouri district.
(with inputs from Sanjay Khajuria in Jammu)
