Vadodara: In the aftermath of the recent terror attack in Kashmir, the number of people showing interest in undertaking the Amarnath Yatra has seen a sudden and sharp decline. A significant drop was recorded in the number of people seeking health certificates required for the pilgrimage.
Jamnabhai Hospital near Mandvi in the old city, which issues fitness certificates to prospective pilgrims, reported a steep fall in footfall following the attack. Pilgrims must obtain these certificates before registering at select banks in the city, which are authorized to access the official registration portal for the yatra.
Up until Monday, the hospital was witnessing a heavy rush of applicants. Since the process began on April 11, 288 people visited the hospital on the first day, followed by 302 on April 15, and 165 on April 16. On April 17 and again on Monday, 140 individuals came in for certification each day.
However, the numbers dropped drastically from Tuesday onwards — only 67 people turned up, followed by 53 on Wednesday. By Thursday, the number plummeted further to just 20. Hospital sources noted that a gradual decline after the initial rush is typical, but the sharp drop on Thursday was unexpected and attributed to growing concerns over security.
Nitin Patel of the Amarnath Yatra Sangh, which organizes annual tours to the shrine, confirmed the shift in sentiment. "There was a heavy rush before the attack. Now, even those who have already registered are coming to us expressing concern," he said.
Despite the anxiety, Nitin emphasized that the yatra is scheduled to begin in July and assured that robust security arrangements will be in place. "I urge people not to cancel their plans due to such incidents," he appealed.
Girish Patel from Shri Rang Amarnath Trust, which organizes a bhandara (free community meal) and assists pilgrims at the shrine, said that they haven't observed any major disruption yet. "Yes, Pahalgam is one of the yatra's starting points. But this should not impact the pilgrimage itself," he said.