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NEWS: Snow traps 70,000 Indian Hindus; 25 die
In clari.world.asia.india, C-upi@clari.net (UPI) wrote:
SRINAGAR, India, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Heavy rain and snow Friday covered a
treacherous mountain trail leading to a holy shrine in India's northern
state of Jammu and Kashmir, killing at least 25 Hindu pilgrims and
trapping some 70,000 others, authorities said.
The pilgrims, including families and Hindu ascetics, were trekking by
horse and foot to caves in the city of Amarnath to view a large ice
stalagmite, believed to represent the phallus of the Hindu god Shiva.
Kashmiri officials evacuated 300 pilgrims caught at the most
dangerous parts of the road, but thousands of others remained stranded
on the narrow path, they said. Rain and snow blocked the two main roads
leading to and from the caves.
Poor visibility prevented emergency helicopters from making further
attempts to rescue the numerous pilgrims trapped at the base of the
mountain where they were unable to climb up the shrine or to turn back.
Authorities were attempting to provide shelter along the route, but
they said they lack sufficient food and blankets.
One of four major Indian pilgrimage sites that draw thousands of
Hindu devotees annually, the Amarnath cave lies 12,729 feet (3,880 m)
above sea level in the Himalayan mountains.
From a base camp, pilgrims must hike 28 miles (46 km) up a steep path
to reach the cave, making the site accessible for brief periods in the
summer.
The number of pilgrims to Amarnath dropped in recent years due to a
Muslim-led separatist insurgency in the Kashmir Valley. The rebels have
detonated bombs along the pilgrimage route, prompting Indian officials
to provide tight security for the worshippers.
Authorities said the number of people making the trek this year has
far exceeded last year's count of approximately 60,000.
gc-m
