Amarnath Yatra Registrations Drop Over 10% After Pahalgam Terror Attack: LG Sinha

Registrations for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage have declined by over 10% following the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, according to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The attack resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and a local pony operator.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Sinha stated that while 2,36,801 pilgrims had registered for the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra before the incident, only 85,000 had confirmed their participation as of June 25. The Lieutenant Governor expressed hope that the number would increase in the coming days.

Last year, the yatra recorded over 5.12 lakh pilgrims, the highest in the past 12 years. The 2025 pilgrimage is scheduled to begin on July 3 and conclude on August 9. The two designated routes to the cave shrine pass through Pahalgam and Sonmarg.

Mr. Sinha, who also serves as Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), had earlier this month undertaken the pilgrimage via the Baltal route. He confirmed that helicopter services to the cave shrine have been suspended due to security concerns. He noted that only about 8% of pilgrims typically use the helicopter service and said the suspension would not significantly impact the yatra. Authorities have declared all routes to the shrine as ‘no flying zones’, prohibiting the use of drones and balloons during the pilgrimage. Security measures have been intensified, with personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Indian Army, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) jointly deployed across base camps and along the pilgrimage routes.

The security setup includes a three-tier system. Additional personnel have been stationed at vulnerable points, campsites, and along the routes. The Lieutenant Governor appealed to all pilgrims to follow official convoys for safety. Independent travellers were also asked to adhere to convoy schedules. The Shrine Board has mandated the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking for all pilgrims, a system introduced three years ago, to enable real-time monitoring of movement and enhance coordination.

Infrastructure and medical facilities have also been upgraded. Two 100-bed hospitals have been set up at the base camps on the Chandanwari-Pahalgam and Baltal routes. Road widening projects have been carried out, and safety measures such as barriers, cross-barriers, and railings have been installed along narrow and vulnerable stretches.

High-definition surveillance cameras and integrated command and control centres have been put in place to monitor the yatra. The administration said that mock drills have been intensified as part of security preparedness. Mr. Sinha said feedback from previous yatras had been taken into account for improvements this year and noted that cooperation from the local population remained strong.The administration expects registration numbers to improve once the yatra begins and progresses smoothly.