Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday reviewed the arrangements for the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026 during a visit to the Baltal Base Camp, directing all departments to ensure seamless coordination for a safe, smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage.
Accompanied by senior civil, police and Shrine Board officials, the Lieutenant Governor inspected the Base Camp Hospital, on-the-spot registration counters, accommodation facilities, tents and other amenities available for the pilgrims.
Emphasising that the welfare of devotees must remain the administration’s foremost priority, Sinha said every stage of the pilgrimage—from registration and accommodation to movement and darshan—should be free of inconvenience.
“The comfort of Shri Amarnathji’s devotees must remain the highest priority. The Shrine Board and every department involved are united in their dedication to making this spiritual journey a safe, seamless and deeply memorable experience for all,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said the annual pilgrimage was not only enriching the spiritual lives of devotees but also contributing significantly to the socio-economic development of Jammu and Kashmir by generating employment and business opportunities for local residents.
Interacting with sanitation workers, doctors, service providers and langar volunteers, Sinha praised their spirit of selfless service and noted that the increased pilgrim turnout this year had created fresh economic opportunities for traders and service providers.
Describing the yatra as “a living symbol of aspirational Jammu and Kashmir,” he stressed the importance of maintaining its sanctity and cleanliness through collective efforts.
During the review, the Lieutenant Governor directed authorities to take strict legal action against anyone found overcharging pilgrims or involved in fraudulent registrations, irrespective of whether they were service providers, government employees or associated with any institution.
He also ordered a comprehensive audit of sanitation arrangements and instructed officials to ensure uninterrupted 24-hour water supply across the Baltal axis. Officials informed him that the number of RO drinking water installations along the pilgrimage route had been increased to provide adequate access to safe drinking water.
Senior officers briefed the Lieutenant Governor on arrangements related to security, healthcare, sanitation, accommodation, traffic management, power and water supply. They informed him that an effective feedback mechanism had been established to promptly address grievances raised by pilgrims.
Interacting with the yatris, Sinha enquired about the facilities being provided. Pilgrims expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made by the administration, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, police, Army, security forces and other stakeholders.
Inviting devotees from across the country to undertake the pilgrimage, the Lieutenant Governor said the yatra offered an opportunity for spiritual fulfilment and self-discovery.
Addressing the media, Sinha said that around 1.70 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance at the holy cave during the first eight days of the pilgrimage. He said all stakeholders, including the administration, Shrine Board, Police, Army and security forces, were working in close coordination to ensure a smooth and secure yatra.
He noted that a significant number of pilgrims had arrived without prior registration this year but were successfully accommodated through on-the-spot registration procedures.
The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the role of the fully operational 100-bed hospitals at Baltal and Chandanwari, which are handling an average of 1,300 to 1,400 OPD patients daily, providing critical healthcare support to pilgrims as well as personnel deployed along the routes.
He appealed to devotees to follow all guidelines issued by the administration and the Shrine Board and urged them to immediately approach Camp Directors or security personnel in case of any difficulty, assuring prompt assistance.
The review visit was attended by CEO Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi, IGP Security Sujit Kumar, IGP Traffic M. Suleman Choudhary, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Jatin Kishore, SSP Ganderbal Sudhanshu Dhama, senior officers of the civil administration, police, Shrine Board and security forces.
