As thousands of unregistered devotees have reached the base camps in Jammu and Srinagar, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), appealed to pilgrims to undertake the Shri Amarnath Yatra only after obtaining a valid registration.

Thousands of devotees from different parts of the country have arrived in Jammu seeking on-the-spot registration, despite the fact that a large number of pilgrims with valid registrations and allotted Yatra slots are already camping in the city. The influx of unregistered devotees is creating logistical challenges for the administration.

While chairing a high-level meeting, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the overall management and ground situation of the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026.

The Lieutenant Governor assessed the movement of pilgrims, traffic management, security arrangements, accommodation, registration status, and other logistical aspects to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the Yatra.

During the meeting, it was observed that an unusually large number of pilgrims have been arriving without valid registration, resulting in long waiting periods for devotees undertaking the pilgrimage.

The lieutenant governor emphasised that the Yatra is being conducted in accordance with the prescribed ceiling on pilgrim movement along the Yatra routes, in compliance with the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. He said adherence to the registration schedule is imperative to ensure the safety, security, and convenience of all pilgrims.

It was reiterated that only pilgrims possessing valid registration for the designated date would be permitted to proceed on the routes leading to the Holy Cave Shrine.

The Lieutenant Governor appealed to intending pilgrims who have not yet registered to defer their travel for the next few days to avoid inconvenience upon reaching Jammu and Kashmir.

The administration has, therefore, advised all intending pilgrims to complete the mandatory registration process and obtain a valid Yatra Registration Permit for their allotted date before commencing their journey to Jammu and Kashmir. Pilgrims have been requested not to travel without confirmed registration, as they will not be permitted to undertake the Yatra.

The Lieutenant Governor also reviewed the security and logistical arrangements for the pilgrimage. He directed all departments and security agencies to work in close coordination and maintain continuous liaison with all stakeholders, including langar organisations, service providers, and other NGOs, to ensure a safe, seamless, spiritually enriching, and fulfilling yatra.

No Yatra without RFID

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, urged all Shri Amarnath Yatra pilgrims to strictly adhere to the online registration schedule, stating that mandatory RFID-enabled access would be provided only to those with confirmed registration slots.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, the Divisional Commissioner expressed concern over the large number of devotees arriving in the Union Territory without prior online registration. He said the Yatra is subject to a ceiling fixed by the Supreme Court and that the administration has only a limited quota for on-the-spot RFID issuance and e-KYC verification.

"Online registration began on April 15, and most pilgrims have registered through designated banking channels. While facilitation counters have been set up for registered devotees to collect their RFID cards, those arriving without registration or before their scheduled date will face inconvenience," Garg said.

He said RFID is mandatory for undertaking the Yatra and that unregistered pilgrims would have to wait until slots become available due to no-shows. "We appeal to all devotees to undertake the pilgrimage only on their allotted date. Those planning to travel later must complete their online registration well in advance," he added.