Srinagar, Aug. 14 -- According to reports, the mourners, part of the annual Shia pilgrimage to mark the 40th day of mourning for Imam Hussain (AS) and the martyrs of Karbala, were halted after water and debris blocked the strategic mountain pass connecting the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh.

Eyewitnesses said that the sudden flooding left long queues of vehicles at Sonmarg, with many pilgrims forced to wait for hours in the cold weather. "We have been stuck here for hours, and there are elderly people, women, and children among us," one of the stranded travellers said.

Social media posts from those at the scene suggested that clearance work had begun and the road was "almost through," raising hopes that traffic could resume soon.

In a publ...