4 Yatris die, more casualties feared in Baltal flash floods

SRINAGAR — A cloudburst hit Baltal area, which houses a base camp for the Amarnath pilgrimage, in Ganderbal district on Friday.

So far at least four Yatris have died—three of them females—due to the flash floods triggered by it but authorities fear that the number could rise. More than two dozen tents and three langers have been reportedly washed away by the floods.

Teams of Police, NDRF and SDRF besides security forces have been pressed into the service, officials quoted by news agency GNS said. However, police have so far confirmed two casualties.

“Some langars and tents have come under cloud burst/flash floods at the holy cave. Two deaths were reported. Rescue operations by Police, NDRF and security forces are in progress. The injured are being airlifted for treatment. However, the situation is under control,” IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said in a tweet.