Urges pilgrims to follow guidelines, traffic advisories
Assesses readiness at Nayvug Tunnel
Says hi-tech security grid ready across J&K
Qazigund, Jul 01: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V K Birdi, on Wednesday said that elaborate security arrangements have been put in place by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in coordination with the CRPF and other security agencies to ensure a safe and incident-free Amarnath Yatra.
The 57-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine nestled in Himalayas, will commence on July 3 through the twin tracks of the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V K Birdi today visited the Nayvug Tunnel in Qazigund to review the security arrangements and assess preparedness ahead of the arrival of the first batch of pilgrims tomorrow. The first batch of yatris is scheduled to leave the Jammu base camp on Thursday.
Talking to reporters, IGP Birdi, as per KNO, said that senior police officers are inspecting deployments across all Yatra districts to identify any shortcomings and further strengthen the security grid. “We have deployed personnel at transit camps and other strategic locations. Pilgrims are requested to follow the Shrine Board guidelines, traffic advisories and cut-off timings to ensure a smooth pilgrimage,” he said.
Officials said that Road Opening Parties (ROPs) are carrying out daily sanitisation of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Security pickets have been established at designated locations as per Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), while every ROP is responsible for thoroughly checking a stretch of four to five kilometres, including adjoining areas.
They said a multi-layered surveillance network comprising CCTV cameras, drones, Facial Recognition Camera (FRC) systems, watch towers and round-the-clock night patrolling has been established along the route. Anti-drone systems have also been activated to counter any aerial threats, while control rooms have been set up at strategic locations for real-time coordination among security agencies.
According to officials, around 140 CRPF companies have been deployed from Anantnag to the holy cave. The deployment has been reinforced by specialised CRPF units, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security formations to maintain a robust security grid throughout the pilgrimage.
Officials said transit camps have also been fully prepared to receive pilgrims. The FCI Godown transit camp at Mir Bazar has the capacity to accommodate nearly 3,000 pilgrims, while the Walnut Factory transit camp at Levdora, Qazigund can host more than 1000 pilgrims. Both camps have been equipped with accommodation, food, medical facilities and other essential services.
HI-TECH SECURITY GRID READY ACROSS J&K
Officials said that a multi-layered security network backed by advanced surveillance systems, anti-drone technology and round-the-clock deployment of security personnel has been put in place across Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials said elaborate arrangements have been made to secure the entire pilgrimage corridor, beginning from the Jammu base camp to the holy cave shrine, with multiple agencies working in close coordination. “The first line of security begins on National Highway-44, the main route used by Yatra convoys. Every morning, road-opening parties comprising personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF and Army conduct extensive sanitisation of the highway before pilgrims are allowed to move,” they said.
“Teams inspect stretches of the highway, bridges, culverts, forests and roadside areas for any suspicious objects or security threats. Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads and sniffer dogs have also been deployed, while road-opening exercises continue in phases to ensure uninterrupted surveillance along the route,” officials added.
Authorities have also strengthened security beyond the highway by establishing checkpoints on link roads connecting to the convoy route. Security personnel have been deployed at vulnerable locations, while convoy movement will remain regulated and escorted under a predetermined schedule.
TECHNOLOGY KEY COMPONENT OF THIS YEAR’S SECURITY ARCHITECTURE
Officials said that anti-drone systems capable of detecting and neutralising aerial threats have been installed at strategic locations, while an extensive network of CCTV cameras, high-resolution surveillance equipment and mobile monitoring units has been deployed along the pilgrimage routes, transit camps and the cave shrine.
Integrated control rooms have been established to enable real-time coordination among various security agencies and facilitate a swift response in case of any emergency.
Special arrangements have also been made for women pilgrims. An all-women contingent of the CRPF has been deployed at the Nunwan base camp, where female personnel will conduct frisking, assist with queue management and provide guidance to women devotees during security checks.
Officials said the deployment is aimed at ensuring smooth movement of pilgrims while maintaining privacy and convenience during security procedures.
Meanwhile, ahead of the pilgrimage, security agencies carried out a series of mock drills simulating different emergency situations to test coordination and operational preparedness. The exercises involved police, CRPF, Army and other agencies and focused on improving response mechanisms under various scenarios.
Officials said the security framework combines manpower with technology through continuous road sanitisation, surveillance cameras, anti-drone systems, bomb disposal units, integrated command centres and multiple security layers to ensure the safe conduct of the annual pilgrimage. (KNO)
