SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday chaired a high level security review meeting to take stock of arrangements put-in by the different agencies and civil administration for the Amarnath Yatra, which commences on June 29.
Officials said Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Director General of Police R R Swain along with Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, Additional Director General of Police, Jammu Zone Anand Jain and deputy commissioners and SSPs of all 10 districts of Jammu participated in the meeting which last for more than 3 hours at Conventional center Jammu. The heads of paramilitary forces and security agencies also participated in the meeting.
Officials informed that LG took a compressive review of each district, where the heads brief the chair about security and disaster management plans in their respective area. LG also stressed on incident free Amarnath Yatra and directed the officials to keep extra vigil on anti-national elements security agencies and to work in “mission mode” and ensure quick responses in a coordinated manner to achieve this goal.
Earlier, interacted with media persons, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo said that security of the Amarnath Yatra is a top priority of the administration, as he chaired a meeting to review arrangements at the Bhagwati Accompanied by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu zone, Anand Jain, Dulloo went around the heavily guarded base camp to inspect the arrangements ahead of the annual pilgrimage.
The 52-day pilgrimage will commence via the traditional 48-kilometre Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14-kilometre shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal on June 29.
“The first batch of pilgrims will be flagged off from here (Bhagwati Nagar) on June 28 and the yatra will start (in Kashmir) the next day. We have come to oversee the arrangements and had a meeting with officers of various departments concerned,” the chief secretary told reporters at the base camp.
“Almost all arrangements are in place and we are working to ensure better facilities for pilgrims to make their stay comfortable,” he added. Dulloo said there has been a manifold increase in the capacity of lodgement centres and other facilities for pilgrims and the pilgrimage will be monitored. “Adequate security measures are being put in place. Whatever has to be done will be done as yatra security is our top priority,” he said.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor performed the “Pratham Puja” to mark the ceremonial commencement of the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, through video conferencing. The Lieutenant Governor sought the blessings of Baba Amarnathji and prayed for the good health, progress, and well-being of all the people.
Preparations Near Completion: Snow removal operations are particularly focused on the Mahaganesh Top and Shaptari areas along the traditional Pahalgam route. Officials assure that both routes will be fully prepared within the next two to three days. The first group of pilgrims is scheduled to depart for Pahalgam and Baltal on June 28 from Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is diligently maintaining both routes. Additionally, the construction of a 100-bed hospital in Baltal and Chandanwari has been completed, providing essential medical support for the pilgrims. At Pantha Chowk in Srinagar, a new six-storey Yatri Niwas is being built, with three floors already available to accommodate pilgrims.
Langar organizations are actively preparing to support the Yatra. Rajan Gupta, head of the Baba Barfani Langar Organization, reported that trucks carrying ration materials and essential supplies have already arrived. Sheds for langars are being erected along the routes, including in Baltal and Pahalgam, with 125 langar organizations expected to participate this year.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on June 16 where Amarnath Security arrangements were also finalised. LG Manoj Sinha also chaired a series of security reviews and also the Unified High Command meeting to Srinagar to finalise counter terror response.
Since June 9, there have been terror strikes at four places in Reasi, Kathua, and Doda in the Jammu division, in incidents where nine pilgrims and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan were killed, and a civilian and at least seven security personnel were injured.
Jammu has remained largely free of militant activities in the past two decades when compared with the Kashmir Valley. Since mid-2021, at least 26 major terror strikes have occurred in the Jammu region.
