On-the-Spot Registration for Shri Amarnath Yatra 2012

Srinagar (Kashmir), July 1: Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has opened six On-the-Spot Registration Counters as a large number of unregistered pilgrims had turned up at various base camps of the annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra in the guise of tourists.

SASB opened On-the-Spot Registration Counters after a large number of unregistered pilgrims arrived at the Pahalgam and Baltal base camps on the eve of the commencement of the pilgrimage to the 3880-metre high cave shrine, according to sources. "Hundreds of unregistered pilgrims managed to sneak through the security barricades set up by police and CRPF en route the cave shrine. Stopping such a huge number of people would have led to law and order problem," the sources said.

While four counters have been opened in Kashmir - at Nunwan, Chandanwari, Baltal and Tourist Reception Centre Srinagar, two counters have been opened in Jammu.

CEO SASB admitted that On-the-Spot Registration counters have been opened, but said there was no question of allowing unregistered pilgrims for the Yatra.
"There were some problems on the first day of the pilgrimage but not a single unregistered pilgrim has been allowed to proceed towards the holy cave after that," the CEO said.

Registration for the pilgrimage was still open and so far more than four lakh persons have registered themselves for the Amarnathji Yatra.

SASB appealed to the pilgrims not to embark on the pilgrimage without securing a valid Registration as this may cause inconvenience not only to themselves but also to the other pilgrims as well.

SASB has asked the devotees to immeiately contact the nearest medical camps in case of any health issue to obtain timely medical attention.

More than 1.50 lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance to the naturally-formed ice Shiva Lingam at the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnathji.