Srinagar, July 3 (IANS) Shri Amarnath ji Yatra 2026 (SANJY-2026) started on Friday as the first batch of pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan base camps for the holy cave simultaneously, while devotees seeking on-the-spot registration have been advised not to reach Jammu and Kashmir before getting themselves registered.

The first batch of SANJY-2026 was flagged off from Baltal-Domail base camp in Ganderbal by Deputy Commissioner Jatin Kishore. He was accompanied by DIG Maqsood-ul-Zaman, SSP Ganderbal Sudhanshu Dhama, and other senior civil, police, and security officers.

Officials said all arrangements for security, medical aid, RFID verification, and logistics have been put in place along both the Pahalgam and Baltal axes to ensure a safe and smooth yatra.

Devotees expressed enthusiasm as they began the trek to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine.

Yatris also left Nunwan base camp for the cave shrine as Deputy Commissioner, SSP and other senior officials flagged off the first batch from the base camp.

Meanwhile, the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has issued an important advisory for the pilgrims. The advisory said that, as directed by the Supreme Court, the daily maximum number of pilgrims permitted on the pilgrimage route has been fixed.

Compliance with this daily ceiling limit is mandatory for the safety of pilgrims and for the smooth conduct of the Yatra. For pilgrims’ convenience, advance registration was made available well before the start of the Yatra through bank branches across the country and online channels.

Most pilgrims have already taken advantage of this facility and completed their registrations in advance. Therefore, Tatkal (on-the-spot) registration slots are extremely limited.

All pilgrims are requested to reach Jammu and Kashmir only after completing their advance registration. Hence, it is not possible to accommodate thousands of pilgrims arriving in Jammu and Kashmir without registration under the Tatkal facility.

Such pilgrims have been requested to wait for their turn and travel only on the date assigned by the administration. It has also been observed that many registered pilgrims are arriving in Jammu and Kashmir before their registered travel date.

No pilgrim will be permitted to travel before their registered date. Please travel only on your registered date, as per the advisory.

Pilgrims who have arrived in Jammu and Kashmir without registration have again been requested to wait for their turn. “Be assured that every pilgrim will get an opportunity to undertake the Yatra, but this will be possible only according to the prescribed procedure and available capacity,” the advisory mentioned.

“You are requested to maintain order and cooperate with the administration to ensure everyone’s safety,” the advisory said.

–IANS

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