Prevent overcrowding in Kashmir by screening Amarnath pilgrims at Jammu: Purnima Sharma

• Unregistered pilgrims should be stopped atJammu Transit Points: Purnima Sharma

JAMMU: BJP Spokesperson and former Deputy Mayor Adv. Purnima Sharma has urged the Jammu & Kashmir administration to ensure strict regulation of unregistered Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrims at Jammu itself, stating that only pilgrims with valid registration and scheduled travel dates should be allowed to proceed towards the Kashmir Valley.

She said the unprecedented enthusiasm among devotees for this year's Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is a matter of pride for the nation, but effective crowd management is equally essential to ensure the safety, convenience and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.

Adv. Purnima Sharma said the administration should establish a robust screening mechanism at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas and other transit points in Jammu, so that unregistered pilgrims are stopped from moving towards Srinagar until their registration and travel schedules are verified.

"Managing the rush at Jammu will significantly reduce unnecessary pressure on the Srinagar transit camps, Baltal and Pahalgam base camps, besides ensuring better traffic management and security arrangements along the Yatra routes," she said.

She added that Jammu serves as the gateway to the holy pilgrimage and is the most appropriate location for regulating pilgrim movement. Allowing only registered devotees to proceed as per their designated dates would help avoid overcrowding, improve emergency response capability and ensure better facilities for all pilgrims.

The BJP leader appreciated the efforts of the Lieutenant Governor-led administration, security forces, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, health workers and volunteers for successfully managing one of the country's most challenging annual pilgrimages. However, she stressed that with record numbers of devotees arriving from across India, stricter implementation of the registration protocol has become the need of the hour.

Adv. Sharma appealed to devotees to cooperate with the administration, avoid travelling without valid registration, and follow the dates allotted to them. "Every pilgrim wants a safe and spiritually fulfilling darshan. That objective can only be achieved if discipline, patience and proper planning are followed by everyone," she said.

She expressed confidence that coordinated efforts by the administration, security agencies and the public would ensure that the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra continues peacefully, safely and with the dignity befitting one of India's most sacred pilgrimages.