Kolkata: The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 civilians shook India and the rest of the world, and paralyzed the Valley. The tourism sector of Jammu and Kashmir, the main pillar of the region’s economy, suffered a massive setback. Now, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha has said that even the registrations for Amarnath Yatra have taken a hit.
Sinha said on June 26 that the registrations for this year’s Amarnath Yatra have dropped by 10.19 per cent compared to last year. Notably, those who had registered before the Pahalgam terror attack were asked to reconfirm their participation in the Yatra. More than 85,000 people who were asked to reconfirm have asserted that they still intend to undertake the famous pilgrimage.
While speaking with reporters at Raj Bhavan, Sinha said, “Pilgrim registrations were progressing well before the April 22 incident, but saw a decline afterwards. There has been a 10.19 per cent drop in registrations compared to last year.” He further informed that almost 2.36 lakh pilgrims had registered for the Yatra before April 22.
He said, “The measures taken by the Jammu and Kashmir administration and security forces have helped restore confidence among pilgrims, and as a result, registrations are picking up again.” He also said the terror attack not only impacted the Amarnath Yatra, but the entire Jammu and Kashmir.
Keeping everything in mind, this year’s Yatra will witness comprehensive security arrangements. The pilgrimage will start on July 3 and end on August 9. Sinha said, “There is a three-layered security setup at the base camps, and security forces are conducting area domination exercises and mock drills to handle any situation. Additional police and CAPF personnel have been deployed, and verification of all service providers has been completed.” Interestingly, this year, helicopter services for the Amarnath Yatra have been suspended and Sinha informed the impact of this decision will be limited.
He assured that comprehensive security measures will cover local people along with pilgrims and tourists. Sinha urged pilgrims who intend to travel by private vehicles to move in coordination with the official convoy from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp to make their journey safe and secure. He added that the government has taken many steps to improve the Yatra experience, including widening its track from four feet to 12 feet.
He said, “Previously, narrow and uneven stretches caused inconvenience. Now, vulnerable spots have been reinforced with barriers to ensure smoother and safer passage.” Sinha mentioned that pilgrims have given positive feedback, and the administration and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board have put in good effort.
