Aug 13, 2025: Today, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha congratulated the officers of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Administration, J&K Police, Army, CAPFs, BRO, service providers, medical professionals, and members of Non-Governmental Organizations, as well as other stakeholders, for the successful execution of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2025. At a felicitation ceremony held at Raj Bhawan Auditorium, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated the people of J&K for making holy pilgrimage a rich spiritual experience for devotees.
“More than 4.14 Lakh devotees from across the country and the globe paid obeisance to Baba Barfani. The Lieutenant Governor stated, "Their enthusiasm, devotion, and successful holy pilgrimage were a fitting response to the enemy's plan to destabilize peace in J&K UT." The Lieutenant Governor thanked the officers, Swachhagrahis, volunteers, sanitation workers, ponywalas, pithuwalas, Disaster Response Forces, Army, Police, and Security personnel, media, and all stakeholders for their collective and coordinated efforts during the Yatra. He also praised the dedication and commitment of intelligence agencies and all Yatra officials who worked diligently to make pilgrims' journeys safe and convenient. Their incredible team spirit and hard work has ensured a safe, hassle-free and spiritually enriching Yatra that will be celebrated and remembered for years, he said.
The Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is a union of faith and humanity. Every pilgrim is now a brand ambassador for Jammu Kashmir,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He asked the officials to prioritize the projects that would improve the pilgrims' experience in the future by analyzing and applying the lessons learned from this year's trip. In addition, he thanked the Indian government for providing constant support and direction for the Yatra's success. The Lieutenant Governor honored the Pakistan-sponsored terrorists who murdered innocent Pahalgam civilians on this day. On both Yatra Tracks, comprehensive arrangements were made this year. A comprehensive medical support system was established to guarantee the health and wellbeing of pilgrims. Two 100-bed hospitals at the base camps, and a dedicated team of 1,222 medical professionals worked around the clock to provide health care services to pilgrims. Over 90 medical facilities with a combined capacity of 560 clinical beds and 26 oxygen booths were set up along the Yatra route. For emergency response, a fleet of 45 ambulances, including 9 equipped for critical care, was deployed.
This year, a number of ground-breaking safety measures were introduced. Nearly 100 distress calls were successfully resolved after emergency communication systems were installed at seven key points on the Yatra track for the first time. Pilgrims were also given real-time health screenings. Natural deaths have decreased by 9% compared to previous years. 1.84 lakh pilgrims have used this facility to use services like palanquins and ponies through a pre-paid system that has worked well. Overcharging has been effectively reduced and any complaints have been promptly resolved thanks to the system's transparent and effective procedure. To preserve the environment, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board collaborated with the Rural Sanitation Department to implement a zero-landfill policy. This project required the installation of 7,000 toilets and the participation of 6,500 "Swachhagrahis," who worked diligently to keep the holy pilgrimage clean. Between 2022 and 2024, the yatra routes saw significant enhancements. The majority of the tracks on the Baltal and Chandanwari routes that lead to the holy cave have been widened to 12 feet as part of a significant upgrade. For the first time, safety handrails have been installed, and track has been carefully inspected, fixed, and maintained. An RFID-based tracking system was introduced for all registered pilgrims and service providers, enabling real-time monitoring of the routes and preventing unauthorized access.
Through a live feed system, the yatra route was continuously monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure the safety of pilgrims. The Shrine Board has successfully ensured a continuous supply of electricity through the grid on the tracks and in the holy cave in collaboration with various stakeholders. For uninterrupted tele-connectivity, underground optical fiber cables have been laid on both Yatra routes. The yatra track can now be monitored in real time via a wireless intranet network. On the Yatra track this year, PTZ cameras, static and head-count cameras, and RFID readers were installed to guarantee the pilgrims' safe passage. In order to better serve pilgrims, the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board dedicated brand-new Yatri Niwas facilities this year at Pantha Chowk in Srinagar and Baltal in Ganderbal. The felicitation ceremony was attended by senior officers from the Civil, Police Administration, J&K, CAPFs, Army, and Shrine Board, in addition to Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Nalin Prabhat, DGP; Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava, GOC 15 Corps; and Dr. Mandeep K Bhandari, CEO of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board.