Amarnath Yatra 2025
Finalises security plan for upcoming 38-day annual pilgrimage
Jammu: Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Tuesday directed the security top brass to ensure safe and incident free forthcoming Amarnath Yatra, slated to commence on July 3.
Chairing a high-level review meeting here to finalize the security plan for the upcoming 38-day annual pilgrimage, the Union Home Secretary, called on the officers to put foolproof security measures in place for the safety of the pilgrims.
Sources said that senior officials from J&K Police, Army, paramilitary forces, including CRPF, SSB, ITBP BSF, and intelligence agencies attended the meeting.
The Union Home Secretary reviewed the security preparedness and held deliberations about the prevailing security scenario in J&K.
The meeting discussed detailed security and logistical assessment for the pilgrimage, which attracts lakhs of devotees from across the country.
The meeting, sources said, dwelt upon every aspect – from route security, communication systems, to medical and disaster preparedness.
“Emphasis was laid on ensuring that all necessary arrangements should be put in place in close coordination with the J&K administration and security forces. The officials discussed multi-tier security, enhanced intelligence coordination, and uninterrupted logistical support, they added.
Sources said that the Union Home Secretary was informed that a close monitoring mechanism has been activated to respond swiftly to any emerging situation and the intelligence grid is functioning proactively, and the joint security drills, surveillance along the yatra routes have already begun.
“The vulnerable points have been identified. Drone surveillance, night patrolling, and road-opening parties have increased the vigil,” the Home Secretary was told.
He was informed that the arrangements for RFID tracking of yatris, real-time weather alerts, emergency evacuation protocols, and dedicated health camps have been put in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the yatra. A multi-layer security grid, including both ground forces and aerial surveillance, would be activated ahead of the yatra.
This year’s Amarnath Yatra is taking place in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 persons, mostly tourists dead. The authorities are taking no chances with the security arrangements being put in place for the Yatra.
A multi-layered security manned by the Army, CAPFs and the J&K Police is already in place at the cave shrine, base camps and transit camps in addition to the route right from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu (starting point) for escorted convoys carrying the pilgrims to Baltal and Pahalgam.
Authorities have made arrangements for real-time weather alerts, emergency evacuation protocols, and dedicated health camps to ensure the smooth conduct of the yatra.
J&K Chief Secretary, Atal Duloo, Director General of J&K Police, Nalin Prabhat, Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA), Director Generals of Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Railway Protection Force (RPF), Additional Director Generals of Central Reserve Police Force and BSF. Joint Director Intelligence Bureau, Principal Home Secretary Kashmir, Northern Command GOC 15 Corps, GOCs pf 16 and 9 Corps, Additional Director General (ADG) CID, Special Director Intelligence Bureau, Chairman Railway Board, IG BSF Jammu, Joint Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Ladakh, ADG ITBP, Special DG Coordination, GM Northern Railway, IG NIA, IG CRPF, CEO Shrine Board, IGP Kashmir, IGP Jammu, Div Com Kashmir and Div Com Jammu were present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, all arrangements, including a multi-tier security deployment, were finalized in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district on Tuesday for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, an official said.
The arrangements were finalized at a meeting chaired by Samba Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Sharma and among others attended by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Virender Singh Manhas to ensure a seamless and secure pilgrimage experience for the visiting devotees, the official said.
The 38-day yatra to 3,880 meters high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas is scheduled to start from the twin tracks of Pahalgam and Baltal in the Kashmir Valley on July 3.
The Samba district administration has prioritized pilgrim comfort through extensive infrastructure upgrades and putting in advanced communication systems, the deputy commissioner said.
“Public address systems and speakers have been installed across lodgement centres in the district to enable real-time announcements and emergency advisories, while print, electronic and social media platforms are being utilized to ensure pilgrims receive timely updates on cut-off timings and safety protocols,” he added.
The SSP outlined a robust multi-tier security deployment strategy featuring enhanced surveillance mechanism with special focus on sensitive zones and strategic security positioning around langar locations.
“This comprehensive monitoring system will ensure the safety of pilgrims throughout their sacred journey,” he added.
The meeting was informed that the medical and emergency preparedness has been given paramount importance with deployment of qualified health personnel and positioning of ambulances equipped with essential medical equipments at all strategic locations.
The Fire and Emergency Services Department has been directed to conduct mandatory mock drills with strategic placement of fire extinguishers and CCTV surveillance at all langar and lodging facilities, ensuring rapid response capabilities in any emergency situation, the official said.
