Elaborate arrangements for accommodation of 55 thousand pilgrims have been put in place for the annual Amarnath Yatra, with the focus on enhanced security. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board will flag off the first convoy. The 57-day pilgrimage to the 3 thousand 880 metre high Amarnath cave shrine will commence on 3rd July. The Yatra will commence from the traditional 48-kilometers Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-kilometer Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
Divisional Commissioner of Jammu Ramesh Kumar said that arrangements have been made to accommodate around 55 thousand pilgrims across the Jammu division. He said, comprehensive arrangements have been made for all pilgrims arriving in the Jammu division, including facilities for accommodation, food and sanitation. Accommodation centres have been set up from Lakhanpur to Banihal, including government-run lodging facilities, temporary shelters and accommodation arranged with the support of civil society organisations.
On-the-spot registration for pilgrims will commence on Wednesday at the Tawi River Front in Jammu, where the registration centre has been shifted to minimise inconvenience to city residents. Tokens have already been distributed, and registration will be carried out according to the daily quota fixed by the Shrine Board. Mandatory RFID cards for security and tracking will be issued at designated centres, including Jammu Railway Station, Bhagwati Nagar, Tawi River Front, Udhampur Railway Station, Chanderkote, Banihal, Lakhanpur and Samba. Pilgrims who have completed online registration and e-KYC verification have been advised to collect their RFID cards before proceeding to the base camp.
Authorities have appealed to pilgrims to strictly follow the Shrine Board guidelines and carry mandatory health certificates. Elderly pilgrims and those suffering from cardiac or respiratory ailments have been advised to undertake the pilgrimage only after obtaining proper medical clearance.
