Over 10 people dead, over 40 missing after a cloudburst near Amarnath Cave

Cloudburst near Amarnath cave : Over 10 people have died and over 40 are missing after a cloud burst near the base camp of the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas on Friday, officials said.

The cloudburst hit the cave area at around 5.30 pm after heavy rains, they said.

Police and other civil administration have launched a rescue operation as some langars were affected by the gushing waters, the officials said.

Also Watch| Hindu devotees begin Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage in Kashmir

Lakhs of pilgrims make their way to the religious cave shrine at this time of the year

The annual 43-day yatra commenced from the twin base camps -- traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag and 14-km shorter Baltal in central Kashmir's Ganderbal -- on June 30.

So far, over one lakh pilgrims have offered prayers at the cave shrine, housing the naturally formed ice-shivlingam, according to officials.

with PTI inputs