Jammu

The Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) on Thursday approved an increase in accidental insurance cover for registered pilgrims, service providers and ‘pujaris’ participating in the annual Amarnath Yatra, raising the amount from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh, officials said.

The decision was taken at the 50th board meeting chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the chairman of the Shrine Board.

According to an official spokesperson, the enhanced insurance cover will apply to registered yatris, shrine board employees, seasonal workers, officials and other stakeholders associated with the pilgrimage.

The Board also announced that the ‘Pratham Pooja’ for the 2026 Yatra will be performed on June 29 on the occasion of Jyeshtha Purnima. The formal commencement date of the pilgrimage will be announced separately.

Every year, lakhs of devotees undertake the pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir, which houses the naturally formed ice ‘shivlingam’. The Yatra is conducted through two routes — the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

Among other decisions, the Board approved the installation of a laser and sound show dedicated to ‘Baba Barfani’ in Jammu and Srinagar, aimed at showcasing the spiritual and cultural significance of the pilgrimage.

The meeting reviewed several measures to enhance facilities and safety for devotees during the upcoming Yatra. The Lieutenant Governor directed officials to identify suitable locations for additional toilet facilities along both routes and to install sheds and rain shelters for pilgrims, service providers and security personnel.

Discussions also covered disaster preparedness, medical infrastructure, registration processes, expansion of online and pre-paid services, and insurance coverage for ponies engaged in the Yatra.

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The Board further deliberated on arrangements for langars and volunteer services, security and surveillance mechanisms, and the installation of crash barriers and safety railings along vulnerable stretches of the routes. Progress on ongoing infrastructure projects undertaken by various departments was also reviewed.