The Indian Army has put in place multi tier security arrangements for the upcoming annual Amarnath yatra, including night domination through night vision devices, snipers, drone systems, and bomb disposal squads along both routes of the yatra, Pahalgam and Baltal.
“Aside from this, dog squads, anti-IED equipment, vehicle repair and recovery teams have also been deployed along both yatra routes to ensure smooth movement of convoys and incident-free pilgrimage,” Lt Col Devendra Anand, the Defence PRO, has said.
The Northern Army Commander, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, reviewed the ongoing preparations for the Amarnath Yatra 2023 and the security arrangements in place on both yatra routes, according to the Defence PRO.
The Army Commander reviewed the arrangements along both routes. He was briefed on the multi-tiered security measures in place to ensure a smooth and incident-free pilgrimage.
The Army has also established Helipads at multiple locations along both the yatra routes for medical emergencies as also to airlift the people in case of any emergency. The Army Commander was also shown the preparations made by the BRO, Indian Air Force (IAF), and High Altitude Warfare School teams.
Pilgrims will undertake the Amarnath yatra from both the southern route of Baltal in Ganderbal and the northern route of Pahalgam in the Anantnag district of Kashmir. The two-month long annual yatra will begin on July 1. According to Army officials, the road stretch to the Holy Cave Shrine is nearly clear for pilgrims to undertake the yatra.
The Army is also establishing multiple medical detachments with special arrangements of Oxygen cylinders and control rooms at various locations along both routes for humanitarian aid that will be operational around the clock in collaboration with civil administration, NGOs, and other agencies. To provide shelter and comfort during the Holy Yatra, the Army has also established a number of Yatri camps with adequate tentage facilities and special winter clothing arrangements.
Based on the experiences of the Amarnath Yatra 2022 cloud burst, civil rescue teams and avalanche rescue teams will be deployed en route systematically to mitigate any kind of disaster, according to the Defence PRO.
Earthmovers will also be stationed at various points along both routes in case of an emergency. He also stated that a seamless communication network on both routes has been operationalized. According to the Defence PRO, SFF detachments will also be monitoring people’s security.
An “All Inclusive Approach” has been implemented to coordinate efforts with all civil agencies, including joint training, joint operations, joint exercises, and mock drills, to ensure the smooth and successful execution of the Yatra this year, Lt Col Devendra Anand said.
