Devotees from the State eagerly waiting to apply for the Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir this year are a harried lot due to a delayed action of the government. According to the rules, the application to the pilgrimage will only be accepted along with a fitness certificate obtained from a recognised government doctor.
However, the government has failed to send the yearly list of recognised doctors till date even as the Shri Amarnathji Yatra Shrine Board has opened applications to the public since March 1.
The website of the board has put up the list of recognised doctors sent by 14 State governments in which, the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka lists are missing. This has left those planning to undertake the yatra clueless.
“I wanted to register early because I wished to see the Shiva idol in its full form since it starts melting within days. I even got the required medical tests done in Osmania Hospital but no doctor is willing to sign it since the government has not issued an official order and the same has to be sent to the Shrine board,” said Praful Chavda, a businessman from Old City.
Some are also worried that a delay in the process will force them to face uncertainties. “It is better to go in the beginning because the arrangements are better and the weather may turn worse later on. Now, due to the delay, we may have to go for the pilgrimage somewhere in mid July even though the yatra starts on June 28,” said another senior citizen from the city.
When contacted, principal secretary, medical, health and family welfare department L.V. Subramanyam, promised that the government would make the necessary arrangements to address the issue at the earliest.
