Rajnath Singh reviews security arrangements for Amarnath yatra

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reviewed security arrangements for the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra here on Thursday.

More than three lakh pilgrims visit the Amarnath Shrine every year and the administration is taking all steps to provide facilities for them.

Security is being deployed at the base camp for the pilgrims.

Other facilities like drinking water, toilets, clean halls for stay, inquiry counters, transport, communication, and banking have been set up at the Yatri Niwas in Jammu.

Singh had reviewed the security arrangements for the Amaranth Yatra during his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir recently. He was told that a multi-tier security will be in place to ensure no untoward incident takes place.

The annual pilgrimage to the shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva in Amarnath begins on June 28.The shrine attracts lakhs of pilgrims each year. A total of 2.6 lakh pilgrims offered prayers at the shrine last year.

The state police has sought additional 22,500 paramilitary personnel for deployment along the route of the pilgrimage.

On July 10 last year, at least nine Amarnath pilgrims were killed and 19 others were injured in the attack on the bus in Anantnag district

In view of last year's terrorist attack on pilgrim bus, the authorities have planned a multi-tier security arrangements. Tracking of pilgrims' movement through satellites, installation of jammers, CCTV cameras and bulletproof bunkers, deployment of dog squads and quick reaction teams will be part of the security drill along pilgrimage routes.

A total of around 40,000 personnel are expected to be deployed during this year's pilgrimage.

Around 35,000 troops were deployed during the Amarnath pilgrimage in 2017.