Kashmir Impulse Desk

Jammu, July 1

Authorities on Wednesday began on-the-spot registration for the annual Amarnath Yatra in Jammu as thousands of pilgrims started arriving at the city’s main base camp ahead of the commencement of the 57-day pilgrimage to the Amarnath Cave shrine on July 3.

Long queues of devotees formed outside registration centres established across Jammu, including the main facility at the Tawi riverfront, where yatris holding advance tokens completed formalities and collected mandatory Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards required for undertaking the yatra.

The first batch of yatris who had completed online registration also reached the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, from where Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is scheduled to flag off the inaugural convoy towards the twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal early on Thursday.

The annual yatra to the 12756-feet-high Amarnath cave shrine will begin simultaneously from both routes on July 3 and conclude on August 28.

Authorities said elaborate arrangements had been put in place to manage the anticipated influx of pilgrims, with registration, accommodation, security, transport and medical facilities operating under an integrated management plan.

Besides the Tawi riverfront, registration centres have been established at Mahajan Sabha for the general public and at Geeta Bhawan and Purani Mandi to facilitate registration of sadhus.

Officials said the token system introduced a day earlier was intended to regulate daily registration quotas and prevent overcrowding at registration counters.

Pilgrims are required to complete electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification and collect RFID tags before entering the Bhagwati Nagar base camp. The RFID system enables authorities to monitor pilgrim movement throughout the yatra and forms part of enhanced security measures introduced in recent years.

RFID cards are being issued at multiple locations, including Lakhanpur, Chichi Mata temple, Samba, Jammu Railway Station, the Tawi riverfront, Bhagwati Nagar, and later at Chanderkote and Banihal in Ramban district.

Officials said pilgrims must report to Bhagwati Nagar before the prescribed deadline on the eve of departure to facilitate convoy movement under security escort.

Accommodation has been arranged for nearly 55,000 pilgrims across Jammu division through government facilities, temporary shelters and camps established with the support of voluntary organisations.

Authorities have also established medical centres, sanitation facilities, drinking water supply, power backup, community kitchens and help desks at key transit locations.

Strict convoy timings have been notified for pilgrims entering Jammu and Kashmir through Lakhanpur, with security agencies regulating onward movement to minimise congestion and ensure safe passage along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Later in the day, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed arrangements at Bhagwati Nagar, assessing security deployment, accommodation, healthcare facilities, sanitation, logistics and emergency response mechanisms ahead of the pilgrimage.

He directed officials to strengthen manpower deployment to manage the expected surge in arrivals and emphasised the need for timely public announcements to assist pilgrims during registration and boarding procedures.

Sinha also interacted with devotees at the base camp, wishing them a safe and successful pilgrimage.

The review was attended by senior officers of the civil administration, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and other security agencies responsible for coordinating the pilgrimage.

In the evening, the Lieutenant Governor participated in the ceremonial Tawi Aarti at the riverfront, where he also inaugurated a light-and-sound show dedicated to the Amarnath Yatra.

In a message posted on social media platform X, Sinha described the pilgrimage as a symbol of India’s spiritual traditions and cultural unity, saying it continued to bring together devotees from diverse regions and backgrounds.

He said Jammu and Kashmir was fully prepared to welcome pilgrims and called for ensuring that every visitor experienced safe, dignified and seamless arrangements throughout the pilgrimage.

Earlier in the day, the first batch of pilgrims received a ceremonial welcome upon entering Jammu and Kashmir through Lakhanpur before being received again at Samba by district officials, who also reviewed arrangements for their onward movement.

Authorities said security had been significantly strengthened along the pilgrimage routes and at transit camps, with personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Armed Police Forces and other agencies deployed to safeguard pilgrims.

Traffic regulation plans, surveillance systems, emergency medical services and disaster response teams have also been activated as part of the multi-layered security and logistics framework.

In a parallel initiative aimed at promoting tourism and improving urban mobility, Sinha launched the “Raahi: Hop Jammu” electric bus service, which will connect major religious, cultural and tourist destinations across the city through themed routes.

Officials said the service was designed to provide an environmentally sustainable transport option for residents and visitors while showcasing Jammu’s heritage and tourism potential during the pilgrimage season.

The Amarnath Yatra is among India’s largest annual religious pilgrimages, attracting hundreds of thousands of devotees from across the country each year under an extensive security and logistical operation coordinated by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and multiple government agencies.