Amarnath Yatra 2024: Pilgrimage To Begin From June 29, Registration From Tomorrow

The Amarnath Yatra, the annual pilgrimage to the holy shrine, will begin on June 29 and culminate on August 19, while the advance registration for the 52-day-long yatra will start on Monday, April 15, the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) announced on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel are receiving specialised training to be part of the Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police to ensure the safety and convenience of devotees, officials said.

Speaking about the Amarnath Yatra, Jammu and Kashmir MRT Team in-charge, Ram Singh Salathia, said, “The Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra will start in Jammu and Kashmir in June and will last for about two months. Lakhs of devotees from all over the country will come to worship ‘Baba Barfani.”

“During the yatra, the pilgrims will have to face difficulties. To deal with the situation, Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) is undergoing training in District Samba to assist the travellers.”

The in-charge assured that the devotees can travel without any hassle as his team will provide them with complete facilities.

Praising his team, Salathia said, “The team has set an example in helping thousands of people every year. They played a crucial role in the 2022 disaster.”

Keeping in mind the geographical conditions of Jammu and Kashmir, these soldiers are being taught the skills to deal with any disaster.

The training regimen encompasses a wide array of skills essential for disaster management, including rescue operations in the event of landslides, floods, fires, and road accidents.

Personnel are trained in rope bridge construction, safe extraction of injured individuals from hazardous locations, and other life-saving techniques. Apart from this, some soldiers have also been given medical training so that they can provide first aid to travellers.

Salathia further said that so far 1,300 soldiers of Jammu and Kashmir Police have been fully trained.

The Amarnath Yatra attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year who visit the site during ‘Shravani Mela in July-August (Shravan month in Hindu calendar) – the only time in the whole year when the Amarnath Cave is accessible.

The annual ‘Amarnath Yatra’ is marked by ‘Pratham Pujan’.