Three Killed, Twenty Injured in cloudburst near yatra base camp

• Srinagar-Leh highway closed
• Yatra via Baltal suspended temporarily
• All Yatris are safe, rescue operation on: DC Ganderbal

Cloudburst in Baltal near Amarnath base campThree persons, including two children, were killed in a cloudburst that hit Amarnath Yatra base camp at Baltal in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district late Friday night, official sources said.
They said cloudburst hit Zojila hills near Bajri Nallah, Baltal on Srinagar-Leh highway at 11 pm, causing flashfloods in low lying areas outside the main entry gate of the base camp.
“The flash floods and landslides triggered by the cloudburst washed away dozens of tents and vehicles,” officials said.
They said after the cloudburst, civil, police and army men launched search and rescue operation to save the trapped persons.
DC Ganderbal Showket Aijaz and SP Ganderbal, Imtiyaz Ismail reached the base camp to oversee the rescue operation. Officials said three persons were killed in the incident.
The deceased were identified as Deepak Singh son of Gopal Prasad R/o Sunder Nagri, Delhi; 13-year-old Pooja d/o Prakash R/o Rajastan and Vikram, 12, s/o Kailash R/o Rajasthan.
Officials said the families of the two children had set up roadside kiosks on the track leading to the Yatra Camp.
“Three dead bodies have been recovered so far. We also received at least 20 injured persons and they were given medical treatment. Only one seriously injured person was referred to Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment,” Dr Shabir Awan, Incharge, Base camp hospital Baltal told .
Officials said ponywala Abdul Karim of Shopian, who was critically injured, was airlifted to SKIMS Srinagar for specialized treatment.
Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal,  Showket Aijaz said rescue operation was going on. “All the yatries are safe,” he said adding those who died were non-local vendors and not yatris.
Though reports said two persons are still missing but there was no official confirmation.
Owing to landslides triggered by cloudburst, Srinagar-Leh highway was closed for all sorts of vehicular traffic.
DC Ganderbal said men and machinery have been pressed into service to clear the Srinagar-Leh road of landslides.
Official sources said Beacon, army and administration have put men and machinery into work to make the road traffic worthy.
Chief Engineer Beacon, A K Das told that it will take at least two days to clear the Sonamarg -Leh road of landslides.
He, however, said Sonamarg-Baltal road will be opened by Saturday evening.
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