Amarnath Ice Shivling melts within 4 days of beginning of annual yatra

The naturally formed ice Shivling at the holy Amarnath cave shrine has melted rapidly within four days of the beginning of the annual Amarnath yatra in Kashmir. This has raised concerns among devotees as this phenomenon of early melting of the ice-lingam has been witnessed for the second consecutive year.

The holy icelingam had melted on Monday surprising pilgrims who reached the mountain cave shrine from across the country.

The development comes amid an overwhelming rush of pilgrims, with over 86,000 devotees having paid obeisance at the holy shrine since the Yatra began on July 3.

The 57-day yatra began on July 3 and is scheduled to conclude on August 28.

According to officials, nearly 86,000 pilgrims offered prayers at the shrine during the first four days of the pilgrimage. The number of devotees was expected to cross one lakh on Tuesday, the fifth day of the yatra.

Around four lakh devotees have reportedly registered for this year’s Amarnath Yatra, meaning that more than three lakh pilgrims are still expected to undertake the pilgrimage in the coming weeks.

Rising temperatures and global warming are the reasons being attributed for the quick melting of the icelingam.