Medical Certificate a must for Amarnath Yatra now
/ 0
- Travel & leisure
- Monday, 27 February 2012 16:44
- Published on Monday, 27 February 2012 16:44
- Hits: 1716
Gujarat Global News Network, Jammu
Pilgrims wanting to visit the Amarnath Shrine will need to present a fitness certificate from a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) at the time of registration. The decision was announced at the meeting of the Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra recently.
The decision has been taken keeping in view the deaths of many pilgrims during the pilgrimage particularly due to cardiac related ailments. As many as 45, 68 and 107 people had lost their lives in 2009 2010 and 2011 Yatras respectively. The requirement of the fitness certificate was also advised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
This year the Yatra will commence from June 25 and will last till August 2, a period of 37 days. These dates were recommended by a sub-committee of SASB headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The opening date for registration for the Yatra is yet to be announced.
Also each registered Yatri, labourer, ponywallah and dandiwallah would be extended a group accident insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh this year.
Fresh contractual arrangements for the helicopter services from Baltal and Pahalgam to Panjtarni are also being worked out and the schedules and rates would be notified shortly.
For news in Hindi see our Hindi daily Chaupal Chronicle
