Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level meeting on Friday to review security arrangements for the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, emphasising robust coordination and comprehensive measures to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
The meeting, held at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar, brought together senior officials from civil administration, security forces, and intelligence agencies to finalise preparations for the annual yatra, a significant spiritual event attracting lakhs of devotees to the holy Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the meeting, Lieutenant Governor Sinha conducted a meticulous review of the security apparatus deployed by various agencies to safeguard pilgrims during the yatra. The meeting also addressed the deployment of police and security personnel along the yatra routes, base camps, and the holy cave shrine. He directed officials to maintain heightened vigilance and ensure rapid response mechanisms to address any potential challenges during the yatra.
The senior officers present in the meeting shared their recent assessment of the prevailing security situation in the region and briefed him about the measures adopted to neutralise the looming threat over the yatra.
LG also assessed the operational readiness of the security grid, which includes coordinated efforts by the J&K Police, Indian Army, CRPF, and other CAPFs.
Around 50,000 security personnel are expected to be deployed along the yatra route to ensure an incident-free pilgrimage.
The meeting saw the participation of key officials, including Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Nalin Prabhat, Director General of Police (DGP), J and K; Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava, General Officer Commanding (GoC) 15 Corps; S.J.M Gillani, Special Director General (Coordination), Police Headquarters; Pankaj Thakur, Joint Director, Intelligence Bureau; Nitish Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) CID, J&K; Rajesh Kumar, ADG Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF); Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SABS) and Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; VK Birdi, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; along with senior representatives from the Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and intelligence agencies.
The discussion focused on the deployment of personnel, surveillance mechanisms, and intelligence-sharing protocols to ensure a foolproof security framework. A key focus of the meeting was the review of the contingency plan, which outlines preparedness and response strategies for unforeseen situations.
LG Manoj Sinha also directed officials to ensure that all logistical and operational aspects, including crowd management, traffic regulation, and emergency response systems, are meticulously planned and executed.
Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, CEO of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board and Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, provided a detailed overview of the arrangements for the yatra. He highlighted key measures taken to improve facilities and services for pilgrims, including upgrades to infrastructure, medical camps, and langar (community kitchen) services along the two primary routes—Pahalgam and Baltal.
The Shrine Board has also introduced advanced technologies for real-time monitoring and management of the yatra, including RFID-based tracking for pilgrims and improved communication systems to coordinate operations across the rugged terrain.
