By IANS,
Srinagar : A major tragedy was averted on the route to the Amarnath cave shrine from this Jammu and Kashmir summer capital when security forces Thursday defused a powerful improvised explosive device (IED).
The IED was detected by personnel of the Rashtriya Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at the Wayil bypass, 27 km from here in Ganderbal district, on the Srinagar-Baltal route.
“The bomb disposal squad of the army has destroyed the IED after its timely detection,” a senior police officer said.
The 97 km Srinagar-Baltal route is used by the pilgrims on their way to Amarnath, the cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The strategic highway also connects the Ladakh region of the state with the rest of the country via the Zojilla Pass at whose foothills the Baltal base camp of the Amarnath pilgrims is located.