Amarnath Yatra Sees 10% Drop in Registrations Post Pahalgam Terror Attack: LG Sinha
TTU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that registrations for this year’s Amarnath Yatra have gone down by over 10% following the terror attack in Pahalgam.
On April 22, an attack in the Baisaran area of Pahalgam led to the death of 26 people. Most of them were tourists. After this incident, fewer people came forward to register for the pilgrimage. According to LG Sinha, there was a 10.19% decrease in registrations when compared to the previous year.
He shared this update during a press briefing at Raj Bhavan.
Over 2.3 Lakh Pilgrims Registered Before the Attack
Before April 22, around 2.36 lakh pilgrims had already registered for the Amarnath Yatra. But the attack led to a slowdown in the process.
To ensure the data remains accurate, the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) started a reverification process. This was meant for pilgrims who had registered before the incident.
“So far, 85,000 pilgrims have reconfirmed their registration,” Sinha stated. He added that they expect the numbers to rise again in the coming days.
Pilgrim Confidence Returns Due to Security Arrangements
Sinha noted that the confidence among pilgrims is slowly returning. This is due to new steps taken by the Jammu and Kashmir administration and security forces. These steps are helping the registration numbers recover.
The Amarnath Yatra will begin on July 3 and end on August 9. The government has planned strict security for the event. A three-tier system will be in place at the base camps. In addition, the forces will carry out area domination exercises and mock drills.
Extra police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed. All service providers have also undergone verification.
Travel Guidelines and Safety Measures
Sinha requested that pilgrims use their private vehicles only if they travel along with the official convoy. The convoy will start from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp. This, he said, is for better protection.
For better comfort, many steps have been taken over the past few years. One major change is the widening of the yatra track—from four feet to 12 feet.
Sinha said that earlier, the narrow tracks caused discomfort. Now, the track is motorable up to the holy cave, but it will only be used in emergencies.
Barriers have also been installed at vulnerable points along the route.
Positive Feedback from Pilgrims
The LG said the pilgrims are happy with the arrangements. Their feedback has been positive. The efforts of the administration and the shrine board have been appreciated.
When asked about helicopter services being suspended this year, Sinha said the decision was made for safety. He pointed to recent accidents in other states and rising security concerns.
“Only eight percent of pilgrims used helicopters for darshan,” he added.
Sinha concluded by saying that the Amarnath Yatra will continue as it has in past years. He assured full support to all pilgrims, tourists, and locals in the region.
