Economy hit as ice stalagmite prematurely melts

Premature melting of the holy ice stalagmite at the Amarnath cave shrine has caused a sharp fall in pilgrim numbers and in turn hitting the local economy. Inside the main Amarnath cave lays the holy ice stalagmite reaching its peak height during the summer season. Untimely shrinking of the naturally formed ice stalagmite has brought disappointment on the faces of the pilgrims.