Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Thursday that pilgrim registration for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra has seen a decline of more than 10 per cent following the Pahalgam terror attack in April.

"The pilgrim registration before the April 22 incident was going on at a good pace but after that the registrations decreased. There was a drop of 10.19 per cent in registration compared to last year," Sinha stated during a press briefing at Raj Bhavan, Srinagar.

He informed that 2.36 lakh pilgrims had registered before the April 22 attack at Baisaran in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.

Efforts to restore confidence

Sinha said confidence among pilgrims is gradually being restored due to steps taken by the Jammu and Kashmir administration and security forces. "The confidence among the pilgrims is returning due to the steps taken by the Jammu and Kashmir Administration and the security forces which has resulted in the registrations picking up again."

He also said that the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has initiated a reverification process for those who registered prior to the incident. "So far, 85,000 pilgrims have reconfirmed their registration. We are hoping that the registrations will pick up in the coming days."

Yatra affected valley-wide, says LG

Asked whether the terror incident had impacted the annual pilgrimage, Sinha said it had affected not just the yatra, but the entire Jammu and Kashmir, especially the Valley.

Security measures in place

With the yatra scheduled to begin on July 3 and conclude on August 9, Sinha assured that robust security arrangements are in place. "There is a three tier security at the base camps while security forces are carrying out area domination and mock drills to meet any eventuality. More police officials and CAPF personnel have been deployed while verification of all service providers has been completed."

He further added, "Good security arrangements have been made not only for pilgrims and tourists visiting Kashmir but the local populace as well."

Travel and infrastructure support for pilgrims

Addressing travel arrangements, Sinha said pilgrims using private vehicles are advised to travel with the official convoy from Bhagwati Nagar base camp for their safety.

For better convenience, he highlighted improvements over the past three years: "The vulnerable spots have been secured by barriers... the narrow tracks were a major cause of discomfort for the pilgrims." He noted that the track has been widened from four feet to 12 feet and is now motorable up to the holy cave, though this will be reserved strictly for emergencies. "The pilgrimage will go on as usual as in the past," he said.

Feedback and heli service update

On the feedback received from pilgrims, the LG said it has been largely positive. "The feedback of the pilgrims has been positive and the steps taken by the administration and shrine board have been appreciated."

Regarding the suspension of helicopter services this year, Sinha said, "The decision was taken in view of various factors including the recent mishaps in other states and security concerns. Moreover, only eight per cent pilgrims were using helicopter services for darshan."