Amarnath pilgrims must be medically fit

People who wish to trek to the Amarnath shrine in Jammu and Kashmir must furnish medical certificates, the authorities have said, adding that those below 13 or above 75 years of age will not be allowed to join the pilgrimage.

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which conducts the annual pilgrimage to the shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, has issued advisories for the pilgrimage, which involves a trek at an altitude of 14,000 feet.

High-altitude sickness is a problem that people may have to deal with while on the pilgrimage, which begins on June 29 and ends on August 7. The symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

If the ailment is not treated in time, it may lead to death in a matter of hours, one of the advisories said.
“Do prepare for the pilgrimage by achieving physical fitness – it is advisable to start a preparatory morning/ evening walk, about 4-5 km per day, at least a month prior to the pilgrimage,” it said.

For the registration, there are specified bank branches, which have been allotted a per day/per route quota for registering pilgrims, the advisory said. The branch will ensure that the number of pilgrims registered does not exceed the allotted quota.