The number of pilgrims paying obeisance at the shrine caveof Amarnath in South Kashmir Himalayas crossed the 2 lakh mark in just 16 daysthis year, the highest in the last 4 years, officials said.

So far 2,05,083 pilgrims paid obeisance at the shrine cave.

Interestingly, unlike previous years, the weather remainedclear and pleasant this year so far due to which the yatra continued uninterrupted.

On the 16th day of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra yesterday,11,538 pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave and cumulatively since the beginning of the pilgrimage on 1st July, 2,05,083 pilgrims had darshan at theholy cave,” an official spokesperson said.

Last year, the total number of pilgrims who visited the shrine was 2.84 lakh in 60 days.  In2017, 2.60 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance at the holy cave in 40 days. In2014, the number was 3,72,909, but in 2016, with the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani, which triggered protests, the number of pilgrims hadcome down to just 2.2 lakh. Earlier, in 2013, 3,53,969 pilgrims had visited thecave shrine and 3,52,771 in 2015.