The record visit of 11.18 lakh pilgrims to Vaishno Devi last month gave sleepless nights to the authorities regarding crowd management. In June, with 40,000 pilgrims pouring in on a daily basis at Katra, the authorities had to suspend the yatra thrice from Jammu itself.

“We have established a three-tier check on registration. We are also starting ‘anywhere parchi system’ on our website, so that pilgrims don’t crowd at Katra. We are e-networking the route to regulate the pilgrim traffic,” said Additional Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, M K Diwedi.

The sheer numbers are also making the security agencies worried. In the past, the yatra has been targetted by militants. On July 22, 2003, seven pilgrims were killed and 38 injured, in two powerful explosions at Banganga.

Last year, the Board had also approached the GSI for suggesting measures to check landslides and shooing stones, that also leads to suspension of the yatra.