By: Yogesh Sagotra
Jammu: Registration for Annual Shri Amarnath Yatra, in the Himalayan heights has begun throughout the country and abroad including Jammu with many enthusiastic pilgrims getting their registration done on the very first day.
The Yatra is set to resume this after over two years, which was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic across the country.
The pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine will commence on June 30 and conclude on August 11.
In Jammu many pilgrims thronged to PNB bank branches where special arrangement was conducted for the registration.
The board is expecting an average footfall of more than three lakh pilgrims in the shrine this year.
Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Nitishwar Kumar said that the registration will start at 446 Branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Punjab National Bank, Yes Bank, and 100 branches of SBI across the country.
He said the pilgrims can also register online through the website and mobile app of the shrine board.
Nitishwar Kumar said that a Yatri Niwas is being readied in the Ramban district which can accommodate 3600 pilgrims.
The Amarnath Shrine Board is expecting a footfall of more than three lakh pilgrims this year.
He said the board has decided to start yatra from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes simultaneously.
The shrine board CEO said, only 10,000 pilgrims will be allowed in a day on each route, excluding those travelling by helicopter.
Nitishwar Kumar said the government will introduce a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system for pilgrims to track their movement.
The Amarnath Yatra could not be held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even in 2019, the yatra was suspended a few days before August 5, when the Centre abrogated Article 370 and revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, dividing the state into two union territories. ((KNO)