Over 5 lakh pilgrims visited Amarnath this year

New Delhi, August 20 : The Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday said a total of 5, 29,697 pilgrims visited Amarnath this year.

The pilgrimage was conducted from June 18 to August 16.

According to Ministry this is a record at least for the last 20 years, for which figures are available. The previous highest figure for pilgrims in a single year to Amarnath was 4,00,000 in 2004.

This year's pilgrim was conducted in spite of the ongoing agitation in Kashmir as well as in Jammu.

It was not disturbed at any time in any way and there were no major reports of pilgrims being inconvenienced. The pilgrims were also provided with the facilities this year that they had been receiving in the previous years.

The State Government and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) together with the efforts of the people of the Kashmir valley have provided all necessary facilities and made the efforts for the pilgrimage to be conducted peacefully.

ANI