Hardeep Jamwal, JNM Journalist, Jammu
Chaos prevailed on Tuesday at the on-the-spot registration center for the Shri Amarnath Yatra 2026, located at the Tawi Riverfront in Jammu. A crowd of thousands of pilgrims from across the country, gathered to obtain tokens, suddenly became unruly, forcing the police to resort to a mild lathi-charge. Approximately 50 pilgrims were injured during the incident, including women and the elderly. Most were discharged from the hospital after receiving first aid.
The first batch for the holy Amarnath Yatra, which commences on July 3, is scheduled to depart from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on July 2. While over 3.5 lakh pilgrims have already registered online, 10 special registration centers have been set up at the Tawi Riverfront for unregistered pilgrims.
Queues Formed at Midnight; Stampede-like Situation in the Morning
Pilgrims began queuing up as early as midnight, hours before token distribution was set to begin on Tuesday. By 8:00 AM, a crowd of around 10,000 pilgrims had gathered at the Tawi Riverfront. As soon as token distribution started, those at the back tried to push forward. The queues quickly disintegrated, and a large number of pilgrims rushed towards the counters, creating a chaotic scene.
Police Appeals Go Unheeded; Mild Force Used
Jammu Deputy Commissioner Dr. Rakesh Minhas was also present at the site during the incident. Although the police and administration repeatedly appealed via loudspeakers for order to be maintained, many pilgrims breached the barricades and fencing to move forward. Observing the deteriorating situation, the police used mild force, resulting in injuries to approximately 50 people.
The injured received first aid at a health center set up on-site. Ten pilgrims who sustained serious injuries were referred to GMC Jammu, while 23 were sent to Gandhi Nagar Hospital. It is a relief that most of the pilgrims were discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment.
Administration states: Situation now fully under control
Following the incident, Ramesh Kumar, the Divisional Commissioner of the Jammu Division, stated that the number of pilgrims arriving on the first day far exceeded expectations, and everyone was eager to complete their registration as quickly as possible. He informed that arrangements at the Tawi River Front have now been strengthened, and the token distribution process will be conducted smoothly.
2,048 pilgrims receive tokens
On Tuesday, the administration issued a total of 2,048 tokens for both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes. Holders of these tokens will undergo on-the-spot registration on Wednesday, after which they will be able to join the pilgrimage.
No permission for the pilgrimage without an RFID card
The administration has clarified that no pilgrim will be permitted to undertake the journey this year without an RFID card. These cards can be obtained from authorized centers, including Jammu Railway Station, Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, Tawi River Front, Udhampur, Chanderkote, Banihal, Lakhanpur, and Samba. Even pilgrims who have completed online registration and e-KYC are required to collect their RFID cards before commencing the journey.
Unprecedented security arrangements
To ensure the Shri Amarnath Yatra is safe and well-organized, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF have inspected the entire pilgrimage route. Measures such as X-ray screening, RFID tracking systems, bomb disposal squads, and the deployment of additional security forces have been implemented along the route to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.
