Online registration for Amarnath pilgrims

Srinagar, May 10 : For the first time ever, the Jammu and Kashmir government has made available the online registration facility for Amarnath pilgrims as about nearly ten lakh devotees are expected to undertake this year's pilgrimage, commencing on June 11.

Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Asgar Samoon said this at a meeting convened to finalise the arrangements for this year's pilgrimage at Sonamarg here last evening.

Senior civil, police and Army officials besides representatives of various departments, ponywallahs and business committees attended the meeting.

It was decided that 1500 pre-fabricated sanitation units will be erected besides water heating system would be set up at different places enroute to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath.

Mr Samoon asked the shrine authorities to establish huts at the holy cave to meet any contingency.

Use of poly bags and plastic tents would be prohibited at base camps and the cave route for safety and security point of view, he added.

The meeting was told that various routes leading to the base camps besides telecommunication systems were being improved upon.

The helipad at Baltal is being macadamised. The health department will ensure medical camps with sufficient stock of medicines, para medical staff and doctors.

The consumer affairs department will provide sufficient quantity of foodgrains and enhance ten per cent of quota consumed last year.

The public health engineering department will press into service water tankers and install water points from Baltal to Sangam. The animal husbandry department will check up registration of ponies and help in getting them insured by giving fitness certificates.

The meteorological department, All India Radio and Doordarshan will coordinate in disseminating weather conditions. The roads and buildings department will ensure proper maintenance of roads and tracks leading to the destinations.

The regional transport office will ensure that vehicles plying on these routes were in good condition, check overloading besides fares. The state road transport corporation will make available a fleet of buses for the pilgrims, the meeting decided.

UNI