On Friday, the India Meteorological Department stated that destruction of the Amarnath cave shrine was caused by an extremely localised rainfall event.
Weather scientists reported that the shrine received 31 millimeters of rain between 4.30 and 6.30 on Friday. Tents and community kitchens located near the shrine were flooded with rocks and mud that fell with a torrent of water following a rainstorm.
“It was a cloud with a high concentration that hovered only above the holy cave. This kind of rain has also happened in previous years. There was no flash flood,” Sonam Lotus said, the Director of Srinagar’s Regional Meteorological Centre.
According to a scientist with the IMD, the area above Amarnath Cave shrine was subjected to 28 mm rainfall from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm.