The number of pilgrims who paid obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas this year crossed the three-lakh mark on Wednesday, officials said.
"On the 24th day of the ongoing Shri Amarnathji Yatra, 7,778 yatris paid obeisance at the holy cave. This takes the total number of pilgrims to have had darshan of the shivling this year to 3,01,818," a Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) spokesperson said.
He said the last time the number of pilgrims had crossed the three-lakh mark was in 2015 when the yatra lasted for 59 days.
"The governor expressed satisfaction over the increased flow of yatris this year and recorded high appreciation of the coordinated effort of the various state government departments and agencies concerned, Army, Central Armed Police Forces, J&K Police, shrine board, all local stakeholders and the civil and police officers deployed as camp officers for the smooth conduct of the yatra," the spokesman said.
Governor S P Malik, who is the ex-officio chairman of the board, also appreciated the people of the Valley, particularly of Anantnag and Ganderbal districts, for their support and participation in the annual pilgrimage.