Amarnath cloudburst: 16 dead, over 40 missing in tragic incident near cave shrine, multi-agency rescue operations underway - In pics

Rescue operations underway at cloudburst-affected areas of Amarnath. The death toll in the flash flood triggered by heavy rain near the Amarnath cave shrine rose to 16 on Saturday as the search operations continued without a break amid fears that many are still trapped under the debris.

An injured is being carried after the cloudburst at the Amarnath Cave area, in Baltal on Saturday. Officials said 15,000 stranded pilgrims were shifted to the lower base camp of Panjtarni and 25 injured people were rushed to hospitals after the flash flood and landslides rummaged through tents and community kitchens on Friday afternoon.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel conduct search and rescue operations at cloudburst-affected areas of Amarnath cave. The ITBP has expanded its route opening and protection parties from the lower part of the holy cave up to Panjtarni.

2 Through Wall Radars and 2 search and rescue dogs moved to the Amarnath cave for rescue operation via helicopters from Sharifabad today. An Mi-17 chopper of the BSF's air wing has been pressed into service. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has also deployed advanced light helicopters for rescue operations.

Sniffer dogs in action as rescue operations underway at cloudburst-affected areas. According to an Army official, mountain rescue teams and lookout patrols with high-tech equipment and sniffer dogs have been deployed for the search and rescue operation. Nine surveillance detachments with hand-held thermal imagers, night-vision devices and other gadgets were deployed for the search operations, the official said.

"Air rescue operations started Saturday morning and six pilgrims were evacuated by Army helicopters. The military medical teams are receiving patients and casualties at the Nilagrar helipad for onward evacuation," an official said.

Indian army personnel rescue injured pilgrims in the aftermath of a cloudburst. A team of BSF personnel has been deployed at the Neelgrath helipad to assist the pilgrims coming from the cave shrine.

"Most of the pilgrims, who were stranded near the holy cave shrine area due to the flash flood, have been shifted to Panjtarni. The evacuation continued till 3.38 am. No pilgrim is left on the track. About 15,000 people have been safely shifted till now," the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) spokesperson said.

Pligrims who were safely evacuated from Amarnath cave to Panjtarni, Sangam base, thanked the Army for its efforts. All teams including NDRF, SDRF, Indian Army, and State forces are working in coordination. It is difficult to predict the exact time to complete the rescue operation. 

The annual pilgrimage, which began on June 30, has been suspended following the tragedy and a decision on its resumption will be taken after rescue operations get over, a senior administration official said.