SRINAGAR: Thirteen individuals were dead and at minimum three dozen were missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods near the Himalayan Hindu cave shrine of Amarnath in Indian native Kashmir, an official said here on Fri (Jul 8).
During the annual pilgrimage, tens of thousands of Hindus cross glaciers and waterlogged trails to achieve the cave which contains an snow stalagmite considered to be the physical manifestation of the god Shiva.
A rescue operation has recovered 8 dead bodies following the cloudburst near the cave, said Kashmir law enforcement chief Vijay Kumar. “Some tents and community kitchens have got washed away in the flash flood. inch
Another official who was unauthorised approach the media, mentioned the death cost was larger, with 13, as 5 more bodies have been recovered.
He said rescuers picked up several bodies from your debris.
Leading Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he had been “anguished” and offered “condolences to the bereaved families. ”
“Rescue and reduction operations are underway. All possible help is being provided towards the affected, ” this individual added.
The cave is covered in snow for most of the year, but authorities let pilgrims visit for forty five days over the summer time as rising temperature ranges clear the goes by.
This year’s pilgrimage takes place following a gap of 2 yrs due to COVID-19. The authorities are expecting a record 800, 000 Hindu pilgrims at the shrine, after more than sixty, 000 arrivals so far in the first 10 days.
Indian soldiers carrying automatic attack rifles and wearing flak jackets are out guarding highways since the pilgrimage began in the Muslim-majority area in June.