Amarnath yatra: JK Guv reviews arrangements for advance registration

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today reviewed arrangements for the advance registration for the 60-day yatra to the 3,880-metre high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas.
The pilgrimage is scheduled to commence from the twin routes of Pahalgam in south and Baltal in central Kashmir on June 28. It concludes on August 26, coinciding Raksha Bandhan festival.
Vohra, who is also chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) which manages the annual yatra, directed the board to ensure day-to-day updation of all yatra-related information on the Board's website.
He directed that queries raised by the pilgrims must be answered on priority, preferably the same day, so that the intending pilgrims do not face any inconvenience in securing advance registration for the yatra.

Chief executive officer, SASB, Umang Narula, said the advance registration of pilgrims for the yatra duly commenced on March 1, for both the routes.
"This registration is being done through 440 designated bank branches of Punjab National Bank, Jammu and Kashmir Bank and YES Bank which are located across the country, in 32 states and Union Territories," he said.

He said 1,457 pilgrims were registered on the first day, while group registration facility is available directly from the office of SASB and this registration is meant to accommodate large groups, comprising minimum five and maximum 50 people.
He said the pilgrims who propose to travel by helicopter do not require advance registration as their helicopter tickets would suffice.

However, they shall not be allowed to travel by helicopter unless they produce their compulsory health certificate, in the prescribed format and issued by an authorized doctor, he said.