Amarnath Pilgrimage Turned Deadly! 16 Dead, 40 Missing in Flash Flood
Border Security Force (BSF) is searching for missing people continuously around the Amarnath cave after a flash flood and landslide swept away people, camps, and community kitchens
Image: PTI
The holy pilgrimage to Amarnath cave started on June 30. But a natural disaster transpired in the form of a cloud burst on July 8, triggering a flash flood in Amarnath, that has around 15,000 pilgrims stranded near the cave in Jammu and Kashmir. While several pilgrims were shifted to the lower base camp of Panjtarni on July 9, around 16 people are confirmed dead and 40 remain missing.
However, the Border Security Force (BSF) is constantly on the search and rescue operation near the holy cave after the flash flood and landslide hit a camp and swept away tents, community kitchens, and many people. As per the BSF spokesperson in Delhi, they have shifted 16 dead bodies to Baltal so far and are now searching for missing people. No pilgrim has been left behind on the trek and thousands of them are safely shifted to the base camp.
Image: PTI
The BSF spokesperson also mentioned that medical staff and doctors of the force have treated nine critically injured patients. A small team is also deployed at the Neelgrath helipad to assist the pilgrims from the cave shrine. Even a Mi-17 chopper of the BSF’s air wing is on the service for rescue and search operations.
After the tragic Amarnath pilgrimage flash flood, many political leaders from India and Pakistan expressed grief on their Twitter handles. Here are some tweets expressing condolences:
Deeply pained by unfortunate incident of cloudburst at Shri Amarnathji holy cave, in which precious lives have been lost. I send my heartfelt condolences to bereaved families. Rescue operation by NDRF, SDRF, BSF, Army, JKP & Shrine board admin is in progress.
— Manoj Sinha (@manojsinha_) July 8, 2022
JKNC expresses shock and grief over the tragic loss of lives at a base camp for the Amarnath pilgrimage due to cloudburst. May the deceased rest in peace. Our condolences go out to those who lost their loved ones. Prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured.
— JKNC (@JKNC_) July 8, 2022
Deeply saddened by the reports of loss of precious lives coming in from the site of the cloud burst near the Amarnath Cave. My condolences to the loved ones of the deceased & prayers for those injured in the aftermath of the flash floods. https://t.co/QLLRJXAPTB
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 8, 2022
Saddened & shocked to know about the tragic cloudburst accident near the Amarnath cave. Deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) July 8, 2022
Via: Times of India
