With the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra set to begin on July 3, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has put in place extensive security arrangements to ensure the safety of thousands of pilgrims expected to participate in the 57-day pilgrimage. A multi-layered security grid involving the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, BSF, and civil administration has been activated across the Union Territory.
Both the traditional Pahalgam route and the Baltal route are under round-the-clock surveillance. Security forces are conducting continuous sanitization and domination operations along the pilgrimage tracks, parking areas, camps, and sensitive forest zones. Bomb disposal squads and sniffer dog units have also been deployed, while intensive vehicle checking is being carried out on highways and connecting roads.
To assess preparedness, a large-scale joint mock drill was conducted in Baramulla under the supervision of the Army’s 79 Mountain Brigade. The exercise involved the Army, Police, CRPF, BSF, Fire and Emergency Services, and medical teams, focusing on crowd management, accident response, handling misinformation, stone-pelting scenarios, and emergency medical assistance.
In a major technological upgrade, QR code-based verification has been introduced for pony operators, palanquin bearers, and other service providers to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the pilgrimage ecosystem. Additionally, the government has deployed 63 officers from various departments to oversee logistics, accommodation, and other essential services throughout the Yatra. Authorities have urged residents and pilgrims to immediately report any suspicious activity or unattended objects to security agencies.
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