Srinagar, Sept. 1 -- As many as 4.8 lakh people performed the annual Amarnath Yatra to the Amarnath cave shrine in Kashmir Himalayas this year as against over 4.14 lakh pilgrims last year, officials said.

They said that the footfall was brisk in the first three weeks despite a substantial portion of the 57-day yatra being disrupted by bad weather after commencement of the pilgrimage on July 03.

"Adverse weather posed serious challenges for more than 10 days and approximately 4.80 lakh devotees had 'darshan'. 82% of pilgrims completed darshan within the first 20 days; 95% within the first month," said an official spokesperson.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of devotees from across the country visit the cave shrine of Amarnath situate...