Amarnath Yatra dates announced

The annual Amarnath Yatra to the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir will begin on July 3 and conclude on August 28, lasting 57 days, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced on Sunday after a meeting of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board. Pilgrims aged 13 to 70 years can register from April 15, with mandatory registration available through designated bank branches nationwide and online portals. Major banks including SBI, PNB, ICICI, Axis Bank and Yes Bank will facilitate the process. Sinha said preparations include enhanced safety and infrastructure measures, such as mandatory RFID tracking for all pilgrims, expanded insurance coverage of ?10 lakh for accidental death, and additional compensation for pony handlers. Nearly 556 bank branches will support registration services. The yatra will proceed via the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the shorter 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal. The first puja will be held on June 19, marking Jyeshtha Purnima. Officials noted significant improvements in infrastructure and technology over recent years, with wider routes and increased adoption of digital systems to streamline pilgrim management and safety.