Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that over 5.12 lakh pilgrims visited the Amarnath shrine this year, marking the highest attendance in the past 12 years. The pilgrimage, which took place from June 29 to August 19, lasted for 52 days and saw an increase from last year's attendance of over 4.5 lakh. Shah praised the efforts of security personnel, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, and local administrations for ensuring the pilgrimage was safe and smooth, especially in light of recent security concerns in the region. Pilgrims accessed the shrine via two main routes, Baltal and Pahalgam. The successful completion of the pilgrimage is significant amid the backdrop of past terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.