Initial reports suggested that seven of the 15 casualties were female pilgrims.
Initial reports suggested that seven of the 15 casualties were female pilgrims.
Despite inclement weather and fresh rain, rescue operations by helicopter services and dog squads were intensified on Saturday morning near the Amarnath cave shrine, where the death toll due to flash floods rose to 15 and many more were missing.
Sources said two military helicopters carrying rescue equipment and dog squads managed to land near the cave temple between 6:45 am and 7:15 am.
Initial reports suggested that seven of the 15 casualties were female pilgrims. Officials said around 60 people were in the area where the flash floods on Friday afternoon affected tents, community kitchens and kiosks. The six rescued pilgrims are being treated at an army medical camp at Nilagar helipad.
Several agencies including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army and CRPF are clearing the debris, an official said.
“The search is on for the missing pilgrims who were washed away by the tents in the water near the cave temple,” an official said.
In Srinagar, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) hospital has kept its helipad ready and special wards have been set up to look after the injured pilgrims. Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, Director Dr MA Rather said, “The department is ready to face any kind of situation”.
According to an official spokesperson, the flash floods were caused by a cloudburst near the cave temple on the Baltal axis in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. Several stranded pilgrims were shifted on the Pahalgam axis to land towards the Nunwan base camp in south Kashmir’s Anantnag. There are two routes to the cave temple, the traditional route to Pahalgam and the non-traditional route to Baltal.
Meanwhile, the Kashmir Valley received fresh rain overnight. Rain was predicted around the Amarnath cave till 9.30 am. If the skies open up, helicopter flights will be increased in the affected area to take the affected pilgrims to safer places.
Meanwhile, the yatra has been put on hold as the route has become slippery due to fresh rains.
A spokesperson of the Meteorological Centre, Srinagar has predicted rain at most places in Jammu and Kashmir, including Anantnag and Baltal, in the next 12 hours.