The Jammu and Kashmir government had planned sending batches of about 3,000 pilgrims daily to Pahalgam and then to Amarnath cave. But, with six to eight thousand pilgrims pouring into Jammu every day, the authorities manning the yatra affairs are under a lot of pressure.

Most of those stranded are those pilgrims who had not got themselves registered at the registration centres opened in various parts of the country. They were given delayed dates for the darshan because of the limited number of pilgrims allowed daily on the treacherous route.

For Devinder Singh from Maharashtra, it proved to be a wrong decision to come here for the yatra this year. He arrived here three days back hoping that he will get the yatra slip for the next day. He had brought with him limited money, sufficient only for aweek. But the darshan date given to him is August 8. He is in a fix whether to conduct the pilgrimage or return without darshan.

Another pilgrim Sonu Chadha of Punjab too faced a similar problem. He decided to defer his yatra plan and come back here on August 5, since he came from the neighbouring state.

Vidya Thakre, 62, of Pune has to wait for another 12 days to proceed to the cave from here. She came here with a group of pilgrims. She termed the registration process as a step taken by the State Government to discourage the pilgrims.

Though voluntary organisations are contributing a lot by setting up langars at various places in the city, they are also facing problems due to the unexpected rush of pilgrims. About 77,000 pilgrims have joined the yatra so far and almost all have gone through this city, said Ashok Gupta, president of the Shiv Sena.

He lambasted the administration for unnecessarily discouraging the pilgrims by blocking them in this small city. Insisting that Jammuites areextending all possible help to the pilgrims, he accused the administration of its lackluster approach.

However, S S Bhalla, Director, Tourism claimed that the administration has made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims' stay. He said that all the community halls including, Chanderbhaga, Jambulochan, and Ambedkar hall have been provided to the pilgrims, in addition to various government schools in the city. Besides, 18 government teachers have been deputed at all the places to help and guide the pilgrims.

Bhalla said that temporary trench-type latrines, additional drinking water taps, and proper illumination have been provided at every place where pilgrims are staying.

Regarding the major complaint of most pilgrims the registration dates he said that earlier the daily registration quota for Jammu counter was 700 pilgrims a day. Keeping in view the heavy inflow of pilgrims, this had been increased to 1,500 a day.

But pilgrims are not satisfied and are raising slogans against the government andstaging dharnas daily at the registration counter.