The timely detection by our Army avoided a possible catastrophe in Amarnath

Srinagar: The Army said on Monday it had defused a bomb placed along a route used by the people taking part in an annual pilgrimage to the mountain shrine of Amarnath in Kashmir.

The troops discovered an improvised explosive device (IED) on a road south of Srinagar, and called in a bomb disposal team.

“The IED was concealed in a bag lying on the side of the mountainous road,” an army officer said. “The timely detection avoided a possible catastrophe.”

The road is used by thousands of Hindus from across India and the world to reach a the Himalayan cave, where an icicle formation in the shape of a Shivalingam is worshipped as a representation of Lord Shiva.

Thousands of security forces are deployed along the mountain roads and trails to protect the pilgrims, who have been targeted in the past by the Kashmiri militants fighting New Delhi’s rule in Kashmir.

At least 32 pilgrims were killed in attacks by suspected militants in 2000 and ten more died the following year.

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