More than 15,000 pilgrims have been moved to safety after 16 people were killed and 48 injured in the flash flood triggered by a cloudburst at the holy Amarnath cave shrine. The death toll is likely to go up as 40 people are still missing, officials said.

The Indian army and ITBP are continuing with the rescue operation as they look for missing persons in the cloudburst-affected area at the lower Amarnath Cave site.

Apart from those killed over 48 others were injured in the cloudburst. All the injured patients are being taken care of at all three base hospitals,  said Dr A Shah, Chief Medical Officer Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir.

Pilgrims who were safely evacuated from the affected areas have narrated the traumatic experience of the flood triggered by the cloudburst that swept away tents and community kitchens. The flood water carried huge rocks and mud along which caused the deaths and injuries to pilgrims. 

Some of the pandals that were two kilometres away from the cloudburst site were also affected, pilgrims said.

"Within 10 minutes of the cloudburst, eight casualties were reported. The water carried a large number of stones with it,” a pilgrim said.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has three teams comprising about 75 rescuers, an official said.

ITBP troops are also providing first aid to those injured. 

Deepak Chouhan, a pilgrim from Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi told ANI, "A stampede-like situation happened there, but Army supported a lot. Many pandals were washed away due to the water."

"The situation is under control, rains are still going on. Looking at the hazard level, the Amarnath Yatra has been halted temporarily due to the area being inundated," said ITBP spokesperson PRO Vivek Kumar Pandey.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed anguish over the loss of lives in the cloudburst.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, meanwhile, has directed the central forces and Jammu and Kashmir administration to ensure swift rescue and relief.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has set up four helpline numbers where people can get information about the incident.

The 43-day Amarnath yatra began after a gap of three years on June 30. In 2019, the yatra was cancelled midway ahead of the Centre abrogating Article 370 provisions of the Constitution. The pilgrimage did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic.

Also read: At least 10 killed in cloudburst at Amarnath Yatra, 25 tents and 3 langars destroyed in flash flood