Governor N N Vohra, who is also the Chairman of Amarnathji Shrine Board, in a meeting held at the Raj Bhavan here today, reviewed the ongoing Advance Registration of Yatris for Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2016. Mr. P.K. Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, informed that the Advance Registration which commenced on 29th February, 2016 through 432 bank branches of Punjab National Bank, J&K Bank and YES Bank spread over 32 States/UTs throughout the country is proceeding smoothly and, as of now, 1,43,462 intending Yatris have secured Advance Registration for Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2016.The list of bank branches authorised to undertake Advance Registration of Yatris is available on the Shrine Board’s website www. shriamarnathjishrine.com. The procedure and guidelines for securing Advance Registration, Group Registration and Registration of ex- India pilgrims is also available on the Shrine Board’s website.CEO once again appealed to all the intending Yatris to obtain Advance Registration, in their own interest, to avoid inconvenience in undertaking the Yatra and stressed the need to obtain Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC) from the authorised Government Doctors or the designated Medical Institutes. The countrywide state wise list of doctors authorised to issue Health Certificates is also available on Shrine Board’s website: www. shriamarnathjishrine.com.
CEO further informed that in order to educate, inform and familiarise the intending Yatris regarding the Do’s and Dont’s and Health Advisory for the Yatra, the Shrine Board has got the same printed as pocket booklets which are being provided free of cost to each pilgrim at the time of registration through the various Bank branches where registration is being done.This year the 48 day long Yatra will commence on 2nd July 2016 and conclude on 18th August 2016, on the day of Raksha Bandhan.
Mr. Tripathi also informed that 7, 500 Yatris per day are permitted to undertake the Yatra along each of the two routes, via Baltal and Pahalgam. It was also informed that, based on the weather conditions, the Access Control Gates at Domel and Chandanwari will be closed at 11.00 A.M. every day, after which no Yatri shall be allowed to proceed on the Tracks. He urged that the intending Yatris must avoid staying at the Holy Cave for the night as the temperature drops sharply after sunset resulting in extreme cold climate. Accordingly, the pilgrims shall not be allowed to proceed beyond Panjtarni Camp, towards Holy Cave, after 03.00 P.M. every day.