The Indian Army on Saturday reconstructed two bridges that had been washed away due to landslides on the Baltal route of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
The work was done in record time, with officials working overnight to ensure that the pilgrims did not face a lengthy detour.
The Army's 15th Corps, known as the 'Chinar Corps', restored the bridges, without which Amarnath pilgrims would have had to take a four-hour detour. The formation is headquartered in Srinagar, and is responsible for military operations in the Kashmir Valley.
The bridges were damaged by landslides following swelling of Nalas near Kalimata on the Baltal route after a sudden increase in temperature.
The annual pilgrimage - to a 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva located in the Himalayas - began on June 30. The pandemic had led to disruptions over the last two years.
"On 01 Jul, 02 bridges near Brarimarg on #Baltal Axis were damaged by landslides. #ChinarCorps mobilised assets and reconstructed the bridges overnight for resumption of route and avoiding an over 4 hour detour by Yatris (sic)," the Chinar Corps tweeted.
The Chinar Corps, also known as XV or 15 Corps, are garrisoned in Srinagar and are responsible for military operations in the Kashmir valley.
"The Baltal route is the responsibility of the Counter Insurgency Force - KILO. On the night of June 30/July 1 due to a sudden increase in temperature which resulted in swelling of Nalas near Kalimata on the Baltal route, the bridges at kalamata were washed away," the Army said in a press release, as quoted by news agency ANI.
"In a record time frame, the 13 Engineer Regiment of Chinar Corps laid entirely a new bridge in the night against heavy odds of weather and darkness. This resulted in a smooth recommencement of yatra and instilled a sense of safety and security among pilgrims. The act once again established that the Indian Army can deliver anywhere, anytime," read the release.
