In a press release issued yesterday the president of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), Cardinal Oswald Gracias mourned the death of the pilgrims and prayed for their families left behind and also for the wounded.
Words in the press release said, “The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) is deeply saddened at the loss of lives when devotees went on a pilgrimage to Amarnath.”
“The CBCI mourns the loss of lives of the devotees and prays for their families left behind. It also prays for those injured and hopes that they may be healed quickly,” the statement said.
The rescue operation is in full swing at the spot of the accident. The Indian Army, paramilitary forces and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are working almost round to all who are helping to carry out the rescue work.
The CBCI also thanked the rescue workers and expressed hope that good weather conditions will prevail soon, the roads will be cleared of landslide debris and the pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave temple will resume soon so that devotees can offer their prayers and return home safely.
Torrential rains caused flash floods near the shrine on July 8. A huge chunk of the mountain came down on the way to Amarnath and on the tents of the pilgrims, leaving at least 16 people dead, 37 injured and several people missing. Many were rescued
Amarnath temple is a Hindu shrine situated in the Himalaya range. The shrine is actually a cave located 140 Kilometers from Srinagar city and is at an altitude of 3,888 meters above the sea level. The cave is surrounded by glaciers and the mountains covered by snow almost all the year round.
The shrine remains frozen with ice throughout the year forming the shape of a Hindu God, Lord Shiva. It is a natural marvel and Hindus consider visiting this shrine as most holy.
Pilgrimage to this shrine takes place in the summer months of July and August every year.
- With input by Mr. Atanu Das. (RVA – Bengali Service, Kolkata, India)
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