Amarnath Yatra-2012?

Health certification made compulsory ?

Amarnath Yatra registration to begin on 7th May?

The process of registering Yatris for this year’s Shri Amarnathji Yatra shall commence on May 7, 2012,  simultaneously for both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes, through 174 bank branches and via the Internet based e-registration system.

Chief Executive Officer, Navin Kumar Choudhary informed that the registration of the Yatris will commence, across the country, from Registration Countres located in 121 designated branches of the J&K Bank, 49 branches of the YES Bank and four District Cooperative Banks. For the information of all concerned, full details of all the Registration Centres are being shown on the Board’s website, www.shriamarnathjishrine.com. CEO further stated that, as recommended by the Board’s sub-committee headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and consequently approved by the Shrine Board, this year’s Yatra shall commence simultaneously, along both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes, on 25th June and culminate on Raksha Bandhan,  August 2, 2012.

While applying for Yatra Permit every intending Yatri would be required to submit a Health Certificate issued by a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP). The CEO informed that 45, 68 and 107 Yatris had lost their lives in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Yatras, respectively. In this context, and also considering that a majority of the Yatris do not pay serious attention to the Health Advisories issued by the CEO, the Board has decided that the Yatris should undergo a compulsory health check-up and furnish a Health Certificate from a Registered Medical Practitioner when they apply for a Yatra Permit. This requirement had also been advised by the National Disaster Management Authority, he added.

The CEO said that the Yatris can obtain a provisional Yatra Permit on-line via the website of J&K Bank (http://yatra.jkbank.net), on payment of handling charges of Rs. 15/- per Yatri. However, Yatris who hold provisional Yatra Permits shall have to submit the prescribed Health Certificate at Yatra Base Camps – Baltal and Nunwan – and have their provisional Yatra Permits stamped by officials of the Shrine Board before being allowed to proceed beyond the Base Camps. This facility has been especially provided for the benefit of those pilgrims who may not have ready access to any of the 174 designated Registration Countres. CEO stated that every Registered Yatri shall be covered by an accidental insurance of Rs one lakh, which is paid  by the Shrine Board.

The CEO stated that from a May 7, 2012 onwards, the interested Yatris can reserve their Heli-seats through the web based on-line Reservation System, by logging on to the Shrine Board’s website. He clarified that to reduce inconvenience and delays, any Yatri who travels by the helicopter services would not be required to obtain a Yatra Permit but shall need to furnish a Compulsory Health Certificate before being allowed to board the helicopter. ?