Amarnath registration: Long queues witnessed outside SBI

Confusion and chaos was witnessed outside a branch of State Bank of India (SBI) in Patiala today as residents were seen scrambling to submit their forms for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra which is to begin in July. Some of the residents said they had been standing in the queue since 6 am and were waiting for the bank doors to open. They said that heavy rush was being witnessed due to bank holidays and glitches in the website which was hampering the online registration process. Sanjay and Tirloki of Jhourian Bhatian locality said the confusion was due to the limit on registrations as each bank had been told to register only 30 forms a day. “What about over 100 people who are standing in the queue. The government should respect the sentiments of people and streamline the process," said Tirloki.

The yatra is scheduled to begin on July 3 and will conclude by August 9. Registrations for the pilgrimage began on April 14 and the procedure for obtaining the mandatory medical fitness certificates started at government hospitals earlier this week.

Devotees keen on undertaking the Amarnath Yatra were also queuing up at the Civil Hospital to obtain a fitness certificate, which is a prerequisite for undertaking the pilgrimage.

A sizable number of women were seen waiting in long queues outside the registration counters of banks in different parts of city this morning.

Patiala