Ahead of the crucial meeting of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board on Tuesday, a major portion of the 'ice stalagmite' formed inside the Amarnath cave shrine has melted away, two weeks ahead of Shravan Purnima, falling on Raksha Bandhan on August 3.
According to official sources stationed at the Amarnath Cave Shrine, “major portion of the Shiv lingam (ice stalagmite) has already melted away, only one feet remains visible” .
Interestingly, Shri Amarnath Shrine board authorities are yet to give its final nod to holding this year's annual pilgrimage via only Baltal route in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.
Chairman of the Shrine Board, Lt-Governor GC Murmu is scheduled to attend the meeting of the board on Tuesday to take stock of the prevailing situation before taking the final decision on the yatra.
On several occasions, Shiv lingam had melted away in the past also ahead of the culmination of yatra. Earlier, a large rush of pilgrims inside the cave shrine was attributed as one of the major reasons behind rise in temperature near the cave shrine. But this year, even in the absence of a rush of devotees the ice stalagmite had melted away.
A senior officer present in the cave shrine told The Pioneer, “the surrounding hill features remained covered with snow for a longer duration but this time the snow had melted away little earlier. Due to clear sunny days, the day temperature triggered fast melting away of shiv lingam”, he added.