Jammu, Jun 27 (KNO): The annual Amarnath Yatra, set to commence on July 3, will be secured with an unprecedented deployment of 183 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) including CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, and CISF alongside the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, said.
On the sidelines of a high-level meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar at Divisional Commissioner Office Police to give final shape to preparations for the 38-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-meter-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the south Kashmir Himalayas.
IGP Tuti emphasized the administration’s commitment to ensuring a safe and smooth pilgrimage, stating, “The Jammu and Kashmir Police, in coordination with CAPF and the Army, have put in place a multi-tier security framework to safeguard every yatri. This year, we have deployed 183 companies of forces, 30 more than last year, covering the yatra circuit across five districts including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, and Ramban.”
He highlighted enhanced measures, including Road Opening Patrols, CCTV surveillance, facial recognition technology along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and increased deployment from Lakhanpur, the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir, to Banihal.
The meeting, attended by senior officials from the civil administration, CRPF, JK Police, and other departments, focused on comprehensive arrangements for the yatra.
Earlier, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Ramesh Kumar reviewed logistics, including RFID registration centers, sanitation, healthcare, power backup, and traffic management at the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, the main base camp in Jammu.
He said that all the arrangements to ensure facilities like langar sheds, hangers, and adequate sanitation are in place.
The Amarnath Yatra will commence on July 3 via two routes, the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
The first batch of pilgrims will depart from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp on July 2.
To ensure safety, IGP Tuti urged pilgrims to travel in official convoys departing early in morning hours, as individual travel is deemed unsafe.
Daily traffic advisories will be issued starting July 2 to guide pilgrims on cut-off timings and movement protocols.
Additional security measures include mock drills conducted across all districts along the yatra routes, domination of mountain tops to prevent terrorist movements, and the establishment of transit camps at Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam).
These measures come in response to heightened security concerns following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 and recent hostilities involving Indian Armed Forces targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Divisional Commissioner Kumar also emphasized civic amenities, directing the Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited (JPDCL) to ensure uninterrupted power supply with sufficient generators and the Jammu Municipal Corporation to deploy adequate sanitation staff and toilets.
The Information Department was tasked with installing public address systems and using media to disseminate advisories. E-bus services by Jammu Smart City Limited will be promoted for pilgrims wishing to explore Jammu’s tourist attractions.
The administration is fully committed to a seamless and secure Amarnath Yatra, with advanced technology and robust coordination ensuring a safe spiritual journey for all pilgrims—(KNO)