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JAMMU, INDIA, July 8, 2001 : With the state government reluctant to open the fresh registration counters at Jammu for the pilrimage to Amarnath Cave, hundreds of stranded pilgrims again took out a procession from Geeta Bhavan to Ranbereshwar Temple and staged a demonstration there demanding their enrollment. The government is limiting the number of pilrgims, which number in the hundreds of thousands, because of threats from Muslim militants in the area. Some of the stranded yatris have run short of money and they are making the rounds of various social organizations for help to return home without performing the darshan. Another news reports states that efforts are underway to divert the stranded pilgrims, who have come here ahead of their date of darshan and others without registration, to other places of religious importance including Purmandal, Shiv Khouri, Mahakali, Peer Khoh and other temples near or within the city. The Tourism Department has come out with a booklet carrying a map of Jammu region and officials are distributing these among pilgrims at departure points of the yatra, M.A. Stadium and other places. Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir government has appealed to unregistered pilgrims not to come to the state.

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