Ludhiana: A govt flying ban grounding all helicopter services for the season has plummeted medical registrations for the annual pilgrimage to Kashmir’s Amarnath cave shrine by nearly 20% in Punjab.At the Ludhiana civil hospital, 4,825 prospective pilgrims underwent the mandatory health clearance between April 15 and June 3, down from 5,980 during the corresponding period last year. The 19.3% drop reflects widespread frustration among older devotees and business travellers after the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) declared the mountain routes a “No Flying Zone” due to security directives.The strenuous high-altitude pilgrimage through the Himalayas to the Amarnath cave shrine begins in July. For affluent business owners and elderly devotees, helicopter transit was the only viable way to complete the arduous journey quickly and safely.“The lack of helicopter facilities has discouraged many,” said Ashwani Kanojia, 49, a local businessman who cancelled his trip. “My friends and I planned to travel by air this year, but dropped the idea. Businessmen prefer helicopters because it allows us to pay our respects and return quickly without disrupting our work.”Community leaders also warned that stricter age limits — which bar devotees over 70 from registering — and lingering regional security concerns have further suppressed turnout.“The suspension of the helicopter service is a major deterrent,” said Varun Mehta, Malwa Zone Head of the Sanatan Sewa Samiti. “There are also underlying security anxieties among devotees that the govt must address.”Local organisers remain optimistic that numbers will rebound. Chander Kant Chadha, a spokesperson for the Shiv Sena (UBT), suggested many pilgrims are simply delaying their medical checks to avoid the chaotic opening-week rush, or are prioritising alternative pilgrimages to Kedarnath and Badrinath.
