M A I N   N E W S

Amarnath Yatra registration starts from March 18
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 21
The registration of pilgrims for this year’s annual Amarnath pilgrimage beginning June 28 will start from March 18 through 422 bank branches.

The decision was taken during a review meeting held by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) Chairman NN Vohra with CEO Navin K Choudhary, Additional CEO Preet Pal Singh and other functionaries of the board today.

The CEO said pilgrims could get themselves registered at counters set up in 422 designated branches of J&K Bank, YES Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and HDFC Bank in all states and Union Territories.

The details of registration centres have been uploaded on the board website - www.shriamarnathjishrine.com

The CEO said the yatra would commence simultaneously on Baltal and Chandanwari routes on June 28 and culminate on Raksha Bandhan i.e. August 21.

It will be mandatory for pilgrims to produce health certificates while seeking registration for the yatra. Choudhary said the format of the health certificate had been circulated by the Union Health Ministry and the J&K State Health Department to all states/UTs and was also available on the SASB website.

Health Certification A Must

• Pilgrims will have to produce health certificates at the time of registration
• Online registration discontinued this year because of misuse last year
• Individuals below 13 years or above 75 years; women over six weeks pregnant will not be registered
• Health certificates issued only by authorised doctors or medical institutes to be considered valid for registration
• Number of registration counters increased from 276 last year to 422 this year
• SBI, PNB and HDFC banks included in registration process