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Unregistered pilgrims allowed
to visit Amarnath shrine

The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to allow unregistered pilgrims to undertake the Amarnath pilgrimage from August 5.

Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Parvez Dewan said while priority would be given to the registered pilgrims, unregistered devotees would also be allowed to proceed for the cave shrine till the upper ceiling of 3,500 pilgrims per day is reached.

About 700 unregistered pilgrims will now be allowed to leave Jammu for Pahalgam and Baltal everyday, Dewan said.

However, no unregistered pilgrim will be allowed to undertake the yatra without producing an identity card or photo identity card of a recognised institution or a driving licence.

Official sources attributed the decision to the poor response to the yatra following a militant attack on a vehicle carrying pilgrims in Anantnag on July 30.

Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 2,872 devotees left Jammu on Saturday for the caves in south Kashmir.

PTI

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