Police and other civil administration have launched a rescue operation as some langars were affected by the gushing waters, the officials said.
NDRF DG Atul Karwal said,"One NDRF team is always deployed near the holy cave, it immediately engaged in the rescue work. One more team has been deployed and another is on its way. 10 casualties reported so far; 3 rescued alive."
Amarnath cloudburst: What we know
Some langars at the Amarnath shrine were affected by the cloudburst. Chopper is rushed to rescue the injured.
The situation is under control, rains are still going on. Looking at the hazard level, the Amarnath Yatra has been halted temporarily due to the area being inundated. If the weather remains normal and makeshift arrangements are made, then the yatra can be resumed tomorrow. Many tents were washed away. Forces began the rescue work immediately. We are working in tandem with the Indian Army and other rescue forces. Some people were rescued from being washed away in the river: Vivek Kumar Pandey, PRO, ITBP.
A senior ITBP official said that water came from above and sides of the cave after it rained heavily at the upper reaches. The rain has stopped for now.
Earlier, amid tight security, the eighth batch of over 5,700 pilgrims left from here on Thursday for the twin base camps of 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.
" Some langars and tents have come under cloud burst/flash floods at Holy Cave, two deaths reported. Rescue operation by Police, NDRF & SFs in progress. Injured being airlifted for treatment. Situation under control," said IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar.
“At around 5.30 pm heavy rainfall was happening, suddenly huge flow of water came. Cloudburst happened in the upper reaches of Amarnath cave. Agencies were alerted. There were tents at the site, people were taken out within 10-15 mins," said Vivek Kumar Pandey, PRO, ITBP.
Union Home minister Amit Shah said on the incident of cloudburst,"I have spoken with J&K LG Manoj Sinha pertaining to flash floods triggered by a cloudburst at Amarnath Cave. NDRF, SDRF, BSF & local admin are doing the rescue work. Our priority is to save the lives of people."
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh confirms that he is "in constant touch with the UT administration. The SDRF and NDRF teams have promptly swung into action to provide all possible relief and assistance."
The 43-day long yatra commenced on June 30 from the twin tracks -- traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district and 14-km shorter Baltal in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district.
So far, over 89,000 pilgrims have offered prayers at the cave shrine, housing the naturally formed ice-shivlingam, officials said.
