SRINAGAR: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has joined the security grid in ensuring an incident-free 62-day Amarnath yatra starting July 1. While it earlier flew the Border Roads Organisation’s heavy equipment deep into the hills, it has now been tasked to fly into the area frequently to check the glacial situation of the hugely fragile mountain region.
Reports appearing in the media said that this season IAF helicopters are being deployed along the twin tracks of the cave shrine to conduct air sorties in the upper reaches to “check glacial events including formation of lakes that trigger flash floods”.
The IAF involvement is aimed at preventing a repetition of the 2022 disaster in which 16 pilgrims were washed away in the flash foods after a cloudburst.
To facilitate this, aerial surveys will be conducted by a team of experts proficient in remote sensing, satellite technology, hydrology, and disaster response. Once any potential risk of water build-up is detected, appropriate contingency measures will be taken along the entire pilgrimage route, particularly in the vicinity of the cave shrine, reports said.
The IAF has already been involved in the conduct of the yatra. Earlier, this month IAF’s Chinook flew heavy equipment from Sonamarg to Panjtirthi. This enabled the BRO to speed up track management.
The yatra has always remained a security-intensive exercise. This year, however, a lot of emphases has expanded the involvement of the security grid. Apart from IAF and the Jammu and Kashmir government, there is Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and almost all paramilitary forces.
The army will secure the heights surrounding the cave shrine, the twin tracks from Chandanwari and Baltal, as well as the Jammu-Srinagar and Jammu-Pathankot National Highways. To ensure the safety of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims, nearly 500 paramilitary force companies, including those already stationed in the region for anti-militancy operations and maintaining law and order, will be deployed.
