Amarnath pilgrims queue up for registration

Confusion and chaos prevailed outside a branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) in Patiala on Wednesday as residents were seen scrambling to submit their forms for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, which is scheduled to begin on July 3.

Some residents said they had been standing in the queue since 6 am, waiting for the bank to open.

Sanjay and Tirloki of Jhourian Bhatian locality said the confusion was due to the limit on registrations as each bank had been told to accept only 30 forms per 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 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 fitness certificates.

Punjab