The 38-day-long yatra is scheduled to start on July 3 from the twin routes — the traditional 48-kilometre Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre Baltal route in the Ganderbal district — leading to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath. The first batch of pilgrims will leave for Kashmir from the Jammu-based Bhagwati Nagar base camp a day before the start of the yatra.
“The administration is ready and committed to ensuring a successful yatra this year. Jammu and Kashmir Police has made multi-tier security arrangements for the yatra,” Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti told reporters here.
Tuti, who along with divisional commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar chaired a high-level meeting to review arrangements, including security, for the yatra, said, “Just like we have been providing security in previous years, this year, even better arrangements are being made, whether in terms of the number of paramilitary forces, deployment in sensitive areas, or CCTV surveillance. Compared to earlier, more vigilant and multi-layered security is being ensured.”
Replying to a question about the deployment of forces for the yatra in the region, he said, “Apart from Jammu and Kashmir Police, more than 180 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed for the yatra.” He said that security forces have been deployed along the Jammu Kashmir National Highway from Lakhanpur to Banihal. “From road opening parties to CCTV cameras, everything has been set up, and security has also been provided at langars, lodging centres. There was no ROP (road opening party) arrangement from Lakhanpur to Jammu last year, but this year there will be ROP here as well,” he said.
The IGP added that starting from July 2, the traffic police will issue a daily advisory. “Cut-off timings will be fixed at all points related to yatra movement. All pilgrims who wish to participate in the yatra must follow this advisory so that there are no problems or inconveniences,” he said.
He said all pilgrims are advised to join the main convoy that departs between 4:00 and 4:30 am. “Traveling individually will not be appropriate. Those travelling with the official convoy are provided with a secure environment, and it is safer to travel in an organised and protected setup,” he said.