J-K LG reviews management of Amarnath Yatra; appeals to pilgrims to travel only after obtaining valid registration
Muddenahalli, July 4
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the overall management and ground situation of the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026.
The meeting was attended by Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Nalin Prabhat, DGP J&K; S.J.M.Gillani, Special DG Coordination PHQ; Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary, Home Department; Pankaj Thakur, Joint Director, Intelligence Bureau (IB); Dr. Mandeep K Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and CEO Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board; senior officers of the Civil Administration, Police, Security Forces, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, and other concerned departments.
The Lieutenant Governor reviewed the movement of pilgrims, traffic management, security arrangements, accommodation, registration status, and other logistical aspects to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the Yatra, according to the release.
During the meeting, it was observed that an unusually large number of pilgrims have been arriving without valid registration, which is causing long waiting times for pilgrims to conduct Yatra.
According to the release, the Lieutenant Governor emphasised that the Yatra is being conducted in accordance with the prescribed ceiling of pilgrim movement on the Yatra tracks, in pursuance of the Supreme Court's orders. Therefore, adherence to the registration schedule is imperative for ensuring the safety, security, and convenience of all pilgrims.
It was reiterated that only pilgrims possessing valid registration for the designated date shall be permitted to proceed on the Tracks leading to the Holy Cave Shrine.
The Lieutenant Governor appealed to the intending unregistered pilgrims to defer their travel for the next few days in order to avoid any inconvenience upon reaching Jammu and Kashmir.
The administration has, therefore, asked all intending pilgrims to complete the mandatory registration process and obtain a valid Yatra Registration Permit for their allotted date before commencing their journey to Jammu and Kashmir. Pilgrims are requested not to travel without confirmed registration, as they shall not be permitted to proceed on the Yatra
The Lieutenant Governor further reviewed the security and logistics arrangements for the Yatra. He directed all departments and security agencies to keep working in close coordination and to maintain continuous liaison with all stakeholders, including Langar organisations, service providers and other NGOs for a safe, seamless, spiritually enriching and fulfilling Yatra.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I appreciate the LG's efforts, but turning away unregistered pilgrims at the border is not practical. These are people who travelled from distant villages with deep faith; many don't have smartphones for online registration. Why not set up registration counters at major transit hubs like Jammu Tawi station and allow on-the-spot registration for genuine devotees? 🙏
Good to see the J&K administration learning from last year's chaos. The Supreme Court ceiling on numbers is clear. Anyone arriving without registration is not just risking their own safety but also causing delays for registered pilgrims. Common sense said it, now the law says it. Simple: register first, then yatra. 📋✔️
As someone who did the yatra in 2024, I can say this system works when followed. But the problem is many pilgrims from rural UP and Bihar still rely on word-of-mouth. The administration should run more awareness campaigns in regional newspapers and local TV channels, not just social media. Also, the langar services should be allowed to set up more stops to reduce crowding. 🍲
Interesting to see the Indian administration handling such a massive logistical challenge. The registration system reminds me of the Hajj management in Saudi Arabia. But the fact that pilgrims still travel without permits shows a cultural gap between government planning and public behavior. Hope the coordination between security forces and langar organizations works smoothly. 🙏
The 'appeal' is fine, but the administration needs to put its money where its mouth is. The registration website crashed repeatedly last week during peak hours. And what about
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