Amarnath Yatra Registrations Dip 10% After J&K Terror Attack

In the wake of the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, only one-third of the pilgrims registered for this year’s Amarnath Yatra have confirmed their travel plans to the sacred cave shrine, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha revealed during a recent press conference at Raj Bhavan, noting that overall registrations for the spiritual trek have dipped by over 10% compared to last year, largely due to concerns following the April 22 incident.

The annual pilgrimage, a deeply spiritual journey for thousands of Hindu devotees, will begin on July 3 and continue through August 9 this year. Despite the setback, LG Sinha—who also serves as the chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board—assured that comprehensive security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of all participants.

“The pilgrim registration before the April 22 incident was going on at a good pace but after that the registrations decreased. There was a drop of 10.19% in registration compared to last year,” Sinha said.

Before the unfortunate attack at the scenic Baisaran meadows, which claimed the lives of 26 people, primarily tourists, nearly 236,000 pilgrims had registered for the 2025 yatra. In comparison, last year witnessed a record turnout with around 512,000 pilgrims undertaking the high-altitude trek—the highest in over a decade.

“The confidence among the pilgrims is returning due to the steps taken by the Jammu and Kashmir Administration and the security forces which has resulted in the registrations picking up again,” Sinha said.

The LG pointed out that the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has launched a process of seeking reverification from the pilgrims who had registered for the yatra before April 22. “So far, 85,000 pilgrims have reconfirmed their registration. We are hoping that the registrations will pick up in the coming days,” he said.

Set at an elevation of 3,880 metres in the Himalayas, the Amarnath cave shrine draws devotees from across India, who brave rugged mountain trails, glacier-fed streams, and dramatic alpine landscapes. Pahalgam, one of the two primary base camps for the yatra, remains central to this annual spiritual expedition.

“There is a three-tier security at the base camps while security forces are carrying out area domination and mock drills to meet any eventuality. More police officials and CAPF personnel have been deployed while verification of all service providers has been completed,” he added.

When asked about the impact of the attack, LG Sinha acknowledged that the tragedy had shaken the entire region, particularly the Kashmir Valley. Nevertheless, he offered reassurance that robust arrangements are in place not just for pilgrims and tourists but also for the local communities, underscoring the administration’s commitment to a safe and peaceful pilgrimage season.