Security arrangements for Amarnath Yatra reviewed

Srinagar, June 19 : Security arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra were reviewed at a high level meeting taken by Special Secretary (Internal Security), MHA, M.L. Kumawat in Srinagar on Wednesday.

Senior officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Government including the Deputy General of Police (DGP) and senior officers from Border Security force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the army attended the meeting.

The Special Secretary emphasized the need to prepare a futuristic plan to deal with the increasing number of pilgrims every year.

They also issued some guidelines for the pilgrims for smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra. hese are as follow as:

-All pilgrims should carry their registration card with them.

-No body will be allowed to have yatra without registration.

-The cards bearing back date registration or registration of any coming date and not the actual date on which the pilgrim is traveling will not be entertained.

-Pilgrims should adopt the allotted route which is mentioned in the registration card.

-Pilgrims should show their registration cards whenever asked for by the security agencies.

-Pilgrims going by helicopter should possess the registration card of the date of their yatra.

-Pahalgam route vehicles will not be allowed to move to Baltal.

Central Para-Military Forces are providing security along the route of the Yatra in co-ordination with the army and State police.

The first batch of pilgrims comprising 2500 people including 300 Sadhus set out from the Jammu base camp amidst tight security on Tuesday morning.

Security forces have been put on a high alert along the entire route of the Amarnath yatra to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

The security setup consists of area domination and setting up of mountain posts by Army, deployments of central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and mobile patrolling by armed police.

The CRPF has deployed 50 companies comprising 6250 men and officers while the Army has set up 97 area domination posts in and around the shrine in Lidder valley of south Kashmir Himalayas, besides Pahalgam and along the highway in Anantnag, Ramban and Udhampur districts.

Base camps have also been established at Noonwan near Pahalgam and Chandanwadi.

Over 150,000 pilgrims registered so far across different centres in the country for the pilgrimage.

Every year, a large number of devotees trek the steep, slippery 48-kilometres route to reach the Amarnath cave shrine, which stands at a height of nearly 12,500 feet above sea level.

ANI