SRINAGAR: Three Amarnath pilgrims were killed and three others injured in flash flood and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall near Baltal area on route to Amarnath cave shrine while two residents died after their boat capsized in Nageen lake in Srinagar on Tuesday evening.
Srinagar and other places of central Kashmir experienced heavy rainfall and windstorm yesterday evening, which triggered flash flood and landslides at Brari Marg and Rail Pathri near Baltal-en route to Amarnath cave shrine in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district.
The Amarnath pilgrims were caught in the flash flood. Police, paramilitary forces, Army, ITBP and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel launched the rescue operation immediately to rescue the trapped yatris.
A police official said three yatris were killed and three others injured in the weather fury. He said the injured yatris were evacuated to Srinagar hospitals, where doctors are attending on them.
The deceased yatris were identified as Jyoti (35), wife of Bimal Sharma (resident of Delhi), Ashok (54), son of Kharo Mahto (Bihar resident) and Shalinder (30), son of Vijay Singh (another Delhi resident).
Due to inclement weather conditions, the Amarnath yatra was suspended from both Batal and Pahalgam tracks today. The authorities and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) have set up halting places for yatrsi at many places on both sides of the tracks.
So far, 54833 yatris have visited the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas to have darshan of the Shivling. The two-month yatra started amid tight security measures on June 28.
Meanwhile, a boat carrying five persons capsized in Nigeen Lake in Srinagar after being caught in the windstorm last evening. The five had gone to attend a dinner in Nagen Lake in a small boat. However, their boat capsized midway.
Three people travelling in the boat managed to swim to the bank. However, two others could not swim and were drowned. The bodies were fished out by local police, volunteers and divers.
The deceased were, both Srinagar residents, were identified as Sajad Ahmed Ghat (24) and Umar Ahmad (24).