Army promises special surveillance squads for Amarnath Yatra routes

Hundreds of pilgrims left their base camps in Anantnag’s Pahalgam and Ganderbal’s Sonamarg to walk towards the shrine. Around 3488 pilgrims have assembled in Valley base camps

Security personnel stand guard as pilgrims from the first batch of the Amarnath Yatra depart from the Nunwan base camp of Pahalgam, Anantnag. | Photo Credit: ANI

The Army on July 1 assured round-the-clock monitoring and special surveillance squads for the Amarnath routes, as hundreds of pilgrims started hiking through two arduous mountain routes in south and central Kashmir on their way to the Amarnath cave shrine. The pilgrimage takes 62-days.

Yatra opens with prayer

The yatra was thrown open after an ‘Aarti’ performed at the Amarnath cave shrine at an altitude of 14000 feet. Raising slogans, ‘Bham Bham Bole’, hundreds of pilgrims left their base camps in Anantnag’s Pahalgam and Ganderbal’s Sonamarg to walk towards the shrine. Around 3488 pilgrims have assembled in Valley base camps for ‘darshan’.

“We have come here on the invitation of Baba Barfani. We are happy with the facilities provided by the administration,” a pilgrim from Punjab said.  

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a review meeting at the control room set up at Raj Bhawan. “A big push has been made to improve facilities for pilgrims and to provide the best of amenities to make the spiritual journey a pleasurable experience,” L-G Sinha said.

Locals helping pilgrims

Hundreds of local Muslims, registered with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, provided horses and palanquins to the pilgrims to help them with the trek from Pahalgam base camp.

“We welcome the pilgrims and have assured full support to the government for its success. Pilgrims don’t need security. The biggest security for them are the locals who have for centuries proved support to the yatris,” J&K Hoteliers Club Sonamarg Chapter president Farooq Hafiz said.

He said Kashmiris treat all religious festivals and shrines with the greatest of respect and help in making festivals and religious occasions a grand success.

Army deploys night vision

Meanwhile, the Army has assured round the clock monitoring of the yatra routes in Kashmir.

“Quadcopters and night vision devices are in place for round the clock surveillance. Mountain and avalanche rescue teams have been deployed to meet any eventuality,” Amandeep Malhi, Commander of the Army’s 1 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, said in Pahalgam.

Atul Rajput, Commander of the Army’s 3 Sector, in central Kashmir’s Sonamarg, said the multi-level security grid has anti-drone teams and bomb squads deployed along the routes.

“Emergency helipads are ready to evacuate the pilgrims in case of any emergency. Security agencies have participated in mock drills, which include mountain and avalanche rescue. Earth moving equipment has already been placed in forward areas,” the Army officer said. He said the yatra is the best time to showcase Kashmiriyat.