Srinagar, July 2 (UNI) Amid unprecedented security cover, the annual Amarnath Yatra is all set to start tomorrow from Kashmir.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha this morning flagged off the first batch of pilgrims from the Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp in Jammu. The pilgrims will proceed toward the holy Cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji tomorrow, officially beginning the 38-day yatra.
This the first pilgrimage after the April 22 terror attacks at the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, in which 25 tourists and a local were killed. In wake of the attack, registration for the Amaranth Yatra has seen a dip of over 10 per cent . In the aftermath of the attack, registration for the Amarnath Yatra has dropped by over 10 percent.
Over the past several weeks, the pilgrimage has become a central focus for the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), the Army, and the government. Security meetings are being held daily at various levels to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the yatra.
The cave shrine, located deep in the Himalayas, is accessible via Pahalgam in Anantnag and Sonamarg in Ganderbal routes. Pilgrims visiting the Cave through Pahalgam will have to pass through the south Kashmir districts of Kulgam and Anantnag, while those using the Baltal Sonamarg route have to traverse Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Srinagar, Bandipore, and Ganderbal.
Comprehensive security arrangements have been made by the security agencies along the twin Yatra routes. The security has also been scaled along the crucial Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Besides increasing the number of security personnel on ground, the authorities have also strengthened the Facial Recognition Surveillance network along the highway.
“Not only have we significantly increased the number of deployed personnel, but we are also using technology on a large scale. The pilgrims have been tagged with RFID devices for real-time tracking,” said a senior security officer.
A multi-layered security system has been implemented. The Jammu and Kashmir government has declared all routes to the Amarnath cave shrine as “no-fly zones,” prohibiting the use of any aerial devices, including drones and balloons, throughout the yatra.
Joint police control rooms have also been set up along the two routes for enhanced coordination among the security agencies. The control rooms oversee live CCTV footage from the cameras installed along twin routes and the National Highway.
A senior CRPF officer said the Force has continuously refined its operational tactics to neutralize threats while ensuring minimal inconvenience to pilgrims.
“Our aim is to provide a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey for every devotee,” Deputy Inspector General, CRPF, north, Sudhir Kumar told UNI.
He said the CRPF acts as the corner pillar of the Amarnath ji Yatra's security apparatus.
“This year CRPF has enhanced its capacity building measures along with dedications and is ready to face challenges posed by various threats,” he added.
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