Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra Temporarily Suspended

Police on Wednesday said that the Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra was temporarily suspended on Wednesday after five pilgrims were injured as a glacier broke off and collapsed on way to the Shrikhand Mahadev shrine in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district.

It may be mentioned here that the ten-day Shrikhand Mahadev yatra, which began on July 15, is considered tougher than the Amarnath yatra.

Police informed that as the glacier collapsed at Nain Sarovar near Parvati Bagh in Ani subdivision on Tuesday at around 4.30 pm, a number of pilgrims got stranded.

"Rescue operations began soon after the glacier broke off. Around 50 other stranded pilgrims were rescued from the glacier point and brought towards Bhim Dwar," Police informed.

"The five injured pilgrims have been identified as Rajiv from Ludhiana, Vivek from Pune, Baba from Maharashtra, Subhash Patel from Pune (Maharashtra) and Divyangni Vyas from Ahmedabad," police added.

Shrikhand Mahadev is revered by Hindus as one of the abodes of Lord Shiva.

The Shivalingam is situated at a height of 18,750 feet above sea level in the lap of the Himalayas.

A base camp for registering pilgrims has been set up at Sinhgad.