Several pilgrims were feared dead in the Amarnath shrine tragedy, 15 recorded deaths, many missing, rescue operations underway.
At least 15,000 pilgrims, who were stranded near Amarnath holy cave in Jammu and Kashmir have been shifted to the lower base camp of Panjtarni. With 15 kiilled, 65 injured and over 40 People ‘still missing’ as ITBP, BSF intensify the rescue operations. ; Check Helpline Nos
India National News shared “According to Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh, at least 13 pilgrims have died and several others are missing following a suspected cloudburst near the Amarnath cave shrine on Friday. Rescue operations are underway and there is fear of more casualties in the mishap, Hindustan Times reported.
The local authorities have advised people to contact the following telephone numbers for any assistance: PCR Pahalgam: 9596779039, 9797796217, 0193-6243233, 0193-6243018
PCR Anantnag: 9596777669, 9419051940, 0193-2225870, 0193-2222870
NDRF: 011-23438252, 011-23438253
Shrine Board Helpline: 0194-2313149”
See the link with the video: https://twitter.com/i/events/1545443634492743680?s=20
“Rescue operations continue as the weather improves at #Amarnath.
‘We aren’t sure about the actual figure of injured people… Whatever information we are getting we are forwarding them,’ an official deployed at #Baltal camp says.
#AmarnathTragedy
Ishan joins Sidharth with more.”
Rescue operations continue as weather improves at #Amarnath.
'We aren't sure about the actual figure of injured people… Whatever information we are getting we are forwarding them,' an official deployed at #Baltal camp says.#AmarnathTragedy
Ishan joins Sidharth with more. pic.twitter.com/uRYlWC3Rhq
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) July 9, 2022
Amarnath tragedy: Cloudburst triggers flash floods, kills 16. Rescue operations underway
(@ashraf_wani) #AmarnathCloudburst #JammuAndKashmir #News @snehamordani pic.twitter.com/YpX5vBNZpk— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) July 9, 2022
J&K | About 10 patients were there, 2 received head injury, 5 have fracture and 2-3 cases of hypothermia…: Major Pankaj Kumar, Nodal Medical Officer, Northern Route on evacuation and rescue operation that continues in the cloudburst affected areas #AmarnathCloudburst pic.twitter.com/xqhJRS87kN
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2022
Is it really a cloudburst or something else?
According to eyewitness accounts and the multiple videos going viral on social media, a stream between two mountains about 200-300 meters away from the cave entry brought down heavy rubble along with massive water. Clearly, it was the result of rainfall behind the holy cave.
The pilgrims also had a warning of bad weather. Yearly, the IMD releases a special weather advisory for Amarnath Yatra and with the bad weather, the forecast for the district on Friday was of yellow alert (means, keep watch). Even the evening forecast, up on the Amarnath Yatra forecast website at 4.07 pm, said, “Partly cloudy sky with possibility of very light rain” for all along the route from both Pahalgam side and Baltal side. There was no accompanying warning.
As per the data from the automatic weather station (AWS) at the holy cave, there was no rainfall from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
“Then there was just 3 mm rainfall between 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm. However, between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm there was 28 mm rainfall,” said an IMD scientist.
As per the IMD criterion, only if there is 100 mm rainfall in one hour then it is called a cloudburst.
“It was a highly localized cloud only over the holy cave. Such rain happened earlier this year as well. It was not a flash flood,” said Sonam Lotus, who heads the Regional Meteorological Centre at Srinagar that looks after the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Lotus also said that it was likely that there was severe rainfall at a higher altitude than the cave.
Anand Kumar Sharma, retired meteorologist and former north India head of IMD, explained: “Rainfall is a highly variable parameter, and it is especially true for mountains with peculiar orography. Plus, the Yatra happens in peak monsoon season. Rainfall may not happen in front of the cave but somewhere upstream, which will have an impact downstream.”
He also said that for any given mountain, there are so many faces and each of them can have different rainfall. Likewise, there are ranges after ranges of mountains. How many automatic weather stations can you install,” he asked.
However, given the number of pilgrims increasing every year and the logistics involved, Sharma said there is a scope for increasing the AWS in the catchment areas and also raise the number along the route for better forecast.
Meanwhile, the weather forecast for the next two days warned of “intermittent scattered light to moderate rain thunder”.