Srinagar:
Authorities will pressed into service drones for monitoring Amarnath Yatra as pilgrims started to arrive in Jammu today.
Earlier at a meeting this week, ADGP Law & Order J&K, Vijay Kumar,emphasized the need for enhanced security measures, including the deployment of Anti-Sabotage teams along the Yatra route to identify and neutralize potential militant threats.
As part of these measures drones will be deployed for monitoring the Amarnath Yatra. ADGP advised officers to “to enhance surveillance and threat detection capabilities through the utilization of advanced drone technology and real-time aerial monitoring over both pilgrimage routes-Pahalgam axis as well as Baltal axis.”
During the joint meeting with officers from the Police, Army, CAPFs, and other agencies at the Police Control Room in Kashmir, detailed discussions were held regarding the security arrangements for the upcoming SANJY-2024.
The meeting also addressed the importance of cut-off timings to minimize disruptions to local and tourist movement during the Yatra. It was decided that Yatri or tourist vehicles traveling beyond the designated cut-off times at various points along the route would be directed to safe places or Yatra camps. Stakeholders were briefed on the protocols prohibiting movement beyond specified timings.
Meanwhile the famous Ram Mandir in the old city of Jammu saw Sadhus from across India arrive to participate in the annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the south Kashmir Himalayas. The 52-day pilgrimage will commence on June 29 from the twin tracks: the traditional 48 km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14 km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal. The first batch of pilgrims will leave Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp and Ram Mandir for the valley a day before the official start of the yatra.