SRINIGAR, INDIA, June 16, 2006: (HPI note: There is also a report in the Times of India that the ice Siva Lingam which normally forms naturally each year in the cave at this pilgrimage destination has failed to form this year. Apparently this fact has been withheld from pilgrims who are only now becoming aware of it.)
Heavy rains and snowfall at various places along the track to the Amarnath cave shrine have once again forced suspension of the pilgrimage from both Baltal and Pahalgam routes. Official sources said today that snowfall and heavy rains had been recorded since yesterday afternoon at several places on way to the holy cave shrine from both shorter Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks, making them slippery and dangerous for trekking. They said snowfall was also received within the periphery of the holy shrine. The sources said no devotee was allowed to proceed to the cave from either of the two routes. After remaining suspended for three consecutive days due to landslides triggered by heavy snowfall and incessant rains at several places along the track to the holy cave shrine since its commencement on June 11, the two-month-long Amarnath pilgrimage resumed only Wednesday following improvement in weather conditions. A Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) spokesman said 4,371 stranded pilgrims had left for the holy shrine from Baltal yesterday morning while a batch of 84 devotees went to the cave in helicopter. About 2,000 pilgrims were allowed to proceed to the holy cave from Pahalgam yesterday morning while 1,838 devotees returned to the base camp from the traditional route after paying obeisance at the shrine, he added.