Jammu: The journey to the Himalayan cave shrine Amarnath –an annual pilgrimage undertaken to pay obeisance before the ice structure ofLord Shiva – is no easy feat. A glimpse of that difficult and risky terrain wasshared by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Thursday.

The ITBP personnel are seen facing stones at asnow slope and protecting the pilgrims the wall on Baltal route. “ITBPpersonnel braving shooting stones at a snow slope by placing Shield wall toensure safe passage of #Amarnath Yatris on Baltal route. #Himveers,” tweetedITBP.

The annual Amarnath Yatra, which started on July 1, will endafter 45 days on August 15. Situated at an altitude of 3,888 metre, theAmarnath cave is considered as one of the holiest shrines for Hindus. The Yatratakes place from the traditional 36-km Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

Earlier, the ITBP personnel also administered oxygen to over25 pilgrims who were feeling breathlessness.

A total of 1617 pilgrims including 1174 men, 379 women, 15children, 49 saints began their journey from Pahalgam axis to Amarnath caveshrine from Baltalaxis and 2800 pilgrims (2321 men, 463 women, 16 children) onMonday.