Watch: Soldiers make human shield to protect Amarnath Yatris from falling stones
Mumbai: A video of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (IBTP) officials making a human shield to protect the pilgrims climbing the Amarnath mountain has gone viral.
The annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage kickstarted on July 1. Every year thousands of pilgrims climb the 3,880 metre-high cave shrine, with a number of reported casualties.
ITBP personnel braving shooting stones at a snow slope by placing Shield wall to ensure safe passage of #Amarnath Yatris on Baltal route.#Himveers pic.twitter.com/fVSIYEzn8x
— ITBP (@ITBP_official) July 4, 2019
So far 4 batches of pilgrims have been allowed to pass through Jammu and Kashmir, according to a report by News 18.
The devotees believe that the cave shrine is home to an ice stalagmite structure that symbolises powers of Lord Shiva.
ITBP personnel guarding the moving yatries from shooting stones on a foot bridge from a high altitude waterfall point on Baltal route of #AmarnathYatra pic.twitter.com/LkOsthMnXN
— ITBP (@ITBP_official) July 5, 2019
The cave is approached by the yatris via the Pahalgam route or Batlal route both of which involve an uphill trek.
The videos shared by ITBP show soldiers braving falling stones under a high altitude waterfall so that the yatris are able to pass through easily.
This video of IBTP officials working under extreme conditions has received a lot of praise from netizens all over the country.
