The recently built motorable road leading to Amarnath Cave in Kashmir Valley has come under immense criticism from regional political parties who have deemed it an environmental disaster.

Amarnath cave road connectivity project kicks-up row, politicians say environmental disaster in making

In Pics | Amarnath Yatra begins, first batch of devotees leave for the Holy Cave

The Amarnath Shrine Board has made Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, which help locate a person, compulsory for all the devotees taking the Amarnath pilgrimage this year.

Amarnath Shrine Board makes RFID tags mandatory for pilgrims

Over 2.3 lakh pilgrims have completed the Amarnath Yatra since it started on July 1. "As many as 2,32,860 pilgrims have had darshan at the shrine during the last 18 days," said officials of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB).

Over 2.3 lakh pilgrims perform Amarnath Yatra

As many as 95,923 pilgrims have performed the Amarnath Yatra since it started on July 1. However, no fresh batch of pilgrims was allowed to move towards the cave due to a protest called by locals to commemorate the death of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani.

Over 95,000 visit Amarnath cave shrine; Mehbooba Mufti claims yatra arrangements irk locals

Over 11,000 pilgrims have completed the darshan and another batch of 4,694 yatris left for the Amarnath cave shrine on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile over 15 pilgrims, on their way to Baltal Axis, were administered Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel after they felt breathlessness.

Over 11,000 pilgrims complete 'darshan', another batch leaves for Amarnath cave shrine

All necessary arrangements are in place as the first batch of Amarnath pilgrims are scheduled to leave for Kashmir from here amid tight security on Sunday, a day ahead of the formal commencement of the annual pilgrimage in the Valley.

Devotees upbeat as first batch of pilgrims leave for Amarnath shrine on Sunday

The green panel also directed that there should be a single line of people walking towards the cave from the last check post

No chanting of 'mantras' at Amarnath shrine: NGT