Over 2 lakh devotees pay obeisance at Amarnath shrine

Over two lakh pilgrims from various parts of the country have so far paid their obeisance in the last 23 days at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
The annual pilgrimage that started on July 2 will conclude on August 18 when the holy mace reaches the shrine.
"Till date 2,02,500 pilgrims from various parts of the country have paid their obeisance at the holy cave shrine," an official of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board said.
Today 3,175 pilgrims paid their obeisance, he added.
Owing to the unrest in the Valley that started following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani during an encounter with security forces on July 8, the yatra had to be suspended thrice.

The pilgrimage was initially suspended on July 9 and resumed on July 11 amid tight security.
It was stopped again on July 14 and restarted on July 16. It was again stopped on July 19 and resumed the same day.
Initially 12,500 central paramilitary personnel and 8,000 state policemen were deployed along the two routes in South Kashmir's Pahalgam and Northeast Sonamarg, the number was however increased after the unrest erupted in the Valley.