Jammu and Kashmir: Drone surveillance of national highways boosts security ahead of Amarnath Yatra

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 28 : In view of the annual Amarnath Yatra, the security grid has been strengthened along the national highways with drone surveillance in several areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

Ahead of the yearly Amarnath Yatra, security personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police were seen patrolling and using surveillance drones to keep an eye on routes, said officials.

The security force officials were instructed to maintain close communication and to be particularly watchful and alert during the Amarnath Yatra in order to foil the nefarious plots of the anti-national and anti-social forces, they added.

According to the officials, the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) Administration has completed all preparations for the annual Amarnath Yatra that begins on July 1.

Officials also claimed that in addition to other logistics, Nunwan Base Camp has been equipped with Langar stalls and other medical services for pilgrims.

Before the yatra starts, the Anantnag district administration has set up all facilities, including medical care, sanitation, and others, and staff members have been stationed at various locations, added officials.

While talking to ANI, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Syeed Fakhrudin Hamid said that "This year as far as RIFD, or sanitization or logging all arrangements have been made and all departments are working for the Yatra and like last year all arrangements have been made.

This yatra is also not only a spiritual but also a communal harmony, the officials said.

Earlier this month, the clearing and restoration work of Amarnath Yatra tracks from the Pahalgam side of the Anantnag district of South Kashmir began in full swing, a Border Roads Organization official said.

The official said that BRO started the clearing of yatra tracks in mid-March this year and would be completed by June 15.

While talking to ANI, Aditya, Officer Incharge BRO at Chandanwari said, "We have started the work on clearing the yatra tracks from March 2023. Presently, 800 labourers and 140 horses are working here to clear the 32 km yatra track from Chandanwari to the holy cave".

The BRO official added that the administration of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has set June 15 deadline to clear the tracks. "We are hopeful to achieve that target," he said.

Earlier the yatra track from Baltal to Holy Cave was maintained by Public Works Department (R&B) and the one from Chandanwari to Holy Cave was maintained by Pahalgam Development Authority.

Amarnath Yatra tracks were handed over to BRO in Sep 2022 last year for further maintenance and degradation.

The basic scope of work involved snow clearance, widening of the track, restoration of all footbridges, fixing of handrails, protection works at slide-prone stretches and construction of breast walls and retaining walls for the protection of the track.

Earlier, Director General of BRO Lieutenant General Rajeev Chaudhry said that snow-clearing work on the Amarnath Yatra track is in full swing. He further said that the government is expecting that at least 5 lakh people will be visiting the Amarnath cave shrine this year.

The Amarnath yatra is all set to begin next month.