Jammu and Kashmir: Three-tier security for Amarnath Yatra; rescue teams carry out mock drills

Amarnath Yatra is commencing on June 29 and the biggest concern for the government of Jammu and Kashmir is its security. A three-tier security arrangement has been put in place by police and paramilitary forces to secure both the highway and the routes leading to the Amarnath Cave.

After the recent attacks in the Jammu region, security has been on alert across the Union Territory. Multiple security review meetings have been held for the 52-day pilgrimage to the Amarnath Cave situated at a height of 3,880 metres.

The Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha also visited the Baltal base camp to take stock of the situation on the ground. Sinha directed senior officers of the administration, SASB, police, security forces and other stakeholder departments to coordinate with each other for better security and yatra management.

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J&K Police's Inspector General VK Birdi also held a security meeting. He briefed the top officials of Jammu and Kashmir Police regarding the security arrangements and smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra.

"Jammu and Kashmir Police has made adequate security arrangements and additional CRPF and Paramilitary forces have been inducted to make minute security arrangements. We have made multi-tier arrangements, be it Highway protection or entire track route protection. There are camp security measures taken care of. Technology always chips in for the security arrangements, we have already made elaborate use of CCTV surveillance on routes. We also have many technologies to detect unknown objects, besides that we have drones. Traffic arrangements would be made comfortable for tourists and Yatri's. There would be some time regulations we would be advertising soon so that tourists and Yatri's are aware, and their security aspects are taken care of without comprising their travel plans. We have taken all security measures with regard to the recent attacks, we have incorporated all the measures," Birdi told WION.

J&K government has established a digital hi-tech Command Control Centre for real-time surveillance of the Amarnath Yatra routes. This will help the government to regulate the Yatra in a smooth manner. The centre will have around 60 people from around 20 government departments working day and night. The departments working in the centre include J&K police, CRPF, NDRF, SDRF, Health, PHE, PDD, Telecom and many others.

There will be over 17 PTZ high-definition 360-degree view cameras placed all through the routes from base camps to the cave. Dozens of static cameras have also been placed at strategically important places from both Baltal and Chandanwari base camps.

The first batch of Yatri's will leave from Jammu camp on June 28 and will reach the same day to both the base camps at Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal in Sonmarg. The first batch of Yatri's will be allowed to move towards the cave on June 29.

J&K police mountain rescue teams also carried out mock drills at the Nunwan Base camp in Pahalgam. In case of any natural disaster, teams from Jammu and Kashmir Police, NDRF, SDRF, BSF and CRPF have been deployed at all the critical junctures for both routes so that help can reach out to Yatris as soon as possible in case of any emergency.

"The natural torrential rains etc come in our way and we have made adequate arrangements as far as disaster management is concerned. Jammu and Kashmir's mountain rescue teams are there, SDRF and NDRF teams are there. Besides this BSF and CRPF are also contributing to the mountain rescue teams and they have been placed at the critical junctures at the entire route so that they can be pushed in case of any exigency. We have made all security arrangements, and we pray their travel and stay is comfortable," said Birdi.

All the registered Yatris taking the pilgrimage will be provided with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). This is to make sure that all the pilgrims are tagged and while they take the journey, the authorities would know their exact locations.