2,250 BSF men guard Amarnath Yatra route

At least 2,250 Border Security Force (BSF) troopers have been deployed on the route of the annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in the Kashmir Valley, an official said.

"We have deployed four battalions, carrying 25 companies, on the Amarnath Yatra route for the security of the pilgrims. Each BSF company has around 90 personnel," said a BSF official.

BSF Director General Subhash Joshi recently visited Baltal, Panjtarni and the holy cave in Kashmir and reviewed the security arrangements.

"Around 10 medical camps are established on the routes for providing medical assistance to the pilgrims. BSF has also deployed 15 dog squads and one bomb disposal squad at different places for securing the routes of Amarnath Yatra," added the official.

This year 600,000 pilgrims have registered themselves for the yatra.

Dedicated to the Hindu god, Lord Shiva, the Amarnath cave shrine is located at 13,000 feet above the sea level. The distance from north Kashmir's Baltal base camp to the cave shrine is around 14 km and the pilgrims are able to return after 'Darshan' the same day.