This year’s pilgrimage to Amarnath will begin on June 25 and conclude on August 2, coinciding with Shravan Purnima or Raksha Bandhan.
However, if weather conditions turn favourable and the twin tracks to the 12,729-foot-high cave-shrine in Kashmir Himalayas are cleared of snow and other glacial substance ahead of schedule, the yatra may be advanced by a few days, it was officially announced here on Saturday.
Also, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has, while taking note of the increasing incidence of pilgrims losing their lives en-route mainly due to cardiac arrest, decided that every person seeking registration to undertake the yatra must furnish a health certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner. Such a pre-condition has also been advised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Officials statistics say 45 pilgrims had died in 2009, the figure which rose to 68 in 2010 and 107 in 2011.
The SASB, which met in New Delhi on Friday with Jammu and Kashmir governor N.N. Vohra who is also its chairman in chair, has directed its CEO to issue “a very clear” advisory to inform intending pilgrims to undergo a medical check-up to assess fitness for embarking on the arduous journey through rugged hills.
The issue of extending the yatra period as demanded by various religious and political parties in 2011 was discussed threadbare at the meeting in the backdrop of recommendations of a sub-committee set up by the board in July 2011, consequent to an agreement reached with Baba Yatri Niyas earlier.