- Says “No room for error”, Assesses preparedness”
Srinagar :As Jammu and Kashmir gears up for the annual Amarnath Yatra beginning July 3, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Saturday conducted a comprehensive review of the security situation in Kashmir and directed all agencies to ensure an airtight security grid for the 57-day pilgrimage.
At a high-level meeting held at the Police Headquarters in Srinagar’s Haiderpora, attended by senior officers of the J&K Police, Army, CRPF, BSF, intelligence agencies and civil administration, Mohan assessed preparedness for securing the pilgrimage routes and associated infrastructure.
Officials briefed the Home Secretary on security arrangements along both the Pahalgam and Baltal axes, with a focus on route domination, anti-sabotage drills and intensified surveillance in vulnerable areas.
A senior official told Kashmir Horizon that they have scaled up ground operations and area sanitisation exercises across districts linked to the Yatra.
The meeting also covered convoy movement protocols, emergency evacuation plans, disaster response systems and intelligence-sharing mechanisms among agencies.
Special attention was given to arrangements at transit camps and base camps, where authorities have put in place enhanced healthcare, communication and transportation facilities for pilgrims.
“Home Sec Mohan also reviewed the broader security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, including measures aimed at maintaining peace and weakening the terror ecosystem in the Union Territory.
Senior officers briefed him on recent counter-terror operations and efforts to ensure civilian safety.
The meeting comes days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a similar security review in New Delhi, where he directed agencies to establish a robust multi-layered security framework for the pilgrimage.
Officials said advanced surveillance tools, including drones and CCTV networks, are being integrated with conventional deployment to improve real-time monitoring and threat response.
Meanwhile authorities have deployed 45 specialised mountain rescue teams at 21 locations along the twin pilgrimage routes this year.
Earlier Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat said while flagging off the teams.
“These teams are equipped with enhanced rescue and emergency response resources. They are tasked with assisting pilgrims and responding to contingencies during the pilgrimage,” he said.
DGP Prabhat said the specialised personnel have been strategically positioned to ensure rapid response in case of accidents, adverse weather, or other emergencies during the Yatra.
He also stressed interoperability and close coordination among various security agencies deployed for the pilgrimage, underlining the need for seamless communication and swift action in emergency situations.
The Amarnath Yatra, one of the country’s most significant religious pilgrimages, is set to begin under heightened security amid challenging terrain and weather conditions.
