Amarnath yatra commences, unregistered pilgrims sent back

SRINAGAR: Authorities sent back 12,000 unregistered pilgrims as the annual Amarnath pilgrimage to the cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas commenced on Friday amid tight security.

Police said 8,000 unregistered pilgrims were sent back from the Pahalgam base camp while the rest from Baltal in Ganderbal district.

Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board CEO said yatris without valid permits will not be allowed to proceed to the shrine. "Unregistered yatris have no option but to go back to Srinagar and obtain registration before they can be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage,'' he said.

Earlier, forests minister Mian Altaf Ahmad flagged-off the yatra from Baltal while his cabinet colleague Ghulam Ahmad Mir was present at Pahalgam to oversee the arrangements for the yatra, which would conclude on August 21.