14 current registration counters for unregistered yatris: SASB

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) today opened 14 current registration counters following the arrival of a significant number of unregistered pilgrims.
"Seven counters each have been established at Pantha Chowk and Tourist Reception Centre Nowgam, Srinagar, to facilitate such pilgrims to obtain registration before they can proceed to the Yatra Base Camps," CEO of SASB N K Choudhary said in a statement here.
The divisional administration Kashmir, in coordination with the SASB, J&K Bank, and Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir, have established the 14 counters, he said.
"This facility is in addition to the current registration arrangement available to yatris at various locations in Jammu," Choudhary said.

The decision of the SASB comes in the wake of massive rush of unregistered pilgrims trying to make their way towards Baltal and Pahalgam base camps in violation of the Supreme Court ruling on the matter.
More than 12,000 unregistered pilgrims or those with registration were turned back by police yesterday while more than 9,000 such pilgrims were not allowed to proceed today.

According to the SASB, only 11,530 pilgrims have performed darshan of the naturally-formed ice-lingam inside the 3880-metre high cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
The number is significantly lesser than the figures for first two days of the yatra over the past few years.

Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 6,132 Yatris left Baltal base camp while 4409 Yatris started from Pahalgam base camp for the Holy Cave today, the statement said.
"The weather in the morning was cloudy and there were few spells of rain in the Yatra area. However, in the afternoon, the weather remained clear in most of the Yatra area.
"The Yatris were stopped for brief periods at the Access Control Gates at Chandanwari and Baltal during heavy showers," the statement said.