Amarnath Yatra: Radio frequency identification mandatory for all pilgrims, says Manoj Sinha

Srinagar: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking will be mandatory for all pilgrims undertaking the Amarnath Yatra this year, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Thursday, underlining the administration’s heightened focus on real-time monitoring and security preparedness.

The annual pilgrimage is set to begin on July 3 and will run for 52 days, concluding on August 24. Sinha said the administration, along with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), has made extensive arrangements to ensure safety, healthcare, logistics, and environmental protection during the yatra.

“High-quality surveillance cameras have been installed along key points, and a three-tier security grid has been put in place from the base camps to the holy cave,” the LG said. Armed forces deployment has been strengthened, and multiple mock drills have been conducted to ensure readiness.

On the health front, 100-bed hospitals have been established at each base camp, with additional emergency teams on standby. The Rural Development Department is also working to maintain a clean yatra corridor, continuing the zero-waste initiative launched last year.

Sinha admitted that registration numbers took a hit—dropping 10%—after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. “However, the numbers are rising again, and public confidence is returning,” he said, noting that over 2.36 lakh people had already registered before the attack.

Due to security and logistical challenges, helicopter services will not be available this year. Sinha urged all pilgrims, including those using private vehicles, to travel only with designated security convoys between Jammu and the base camps.