Srinagar
Rescue operation was resumed at the Amarnath cave shrine on Saturday where 16 people have so far died and nearly 65 injured in a cloudburst on Friday evening.
Authorities have temporarily suspended the Yatra from both Baltal and Pahalgam base camps. Teams of NDRF, SDRF, BSF, CRPF, Army, police and ITBP resumed rescue operation on Saturday morning, officials said.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Ganderbal district, Afroza Shah said that five persons were rescued alive from the debris of the flash flood.The operation to ascertain the exact number of casualties, injuries and missing persons is still going on.
Reports from the disaster zone said 25 to 30 tents of the pilgrims and five 'Langars' (Community Kitchens) were washed away in the high-speed muddy slush triggered by the cloudburst that occurred around 5.30 p.m. Friday. The Army has pressed helicopters into service to assist the civil administration in relief and rescue operations. Army said that the rescue operations by security forces continued throughout the night.
MeT department has forecast that another cloud is moving towards the Baltal-Holy cave route which is likely to cause light to moderate rainfall.
"Flash flood/shooting stone may occur at vulnerable places. Please remain alert," the forecast said.
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