Bhaskar Ground Report: Amarnath Yatra starting tomorrow, for the first time anti-drone systems were deployed on yatra routes

On Tuesday, a batch of pilgrims reached Yatri Niwas in Srinagar for the Yatra.

After a long wait of two years, Amarnath Yatra is starting from Thursday. In such a situation, the administration is working overtime to give the finishing touches to all the arrangements. This time a record 8 lakh people are expected to come. So far more than 3 lakh devotees have registered. The 43-day long journey to the holy cave, situated at a height of 3880 meters, will begin simultaneously through the 48 km long route of Pahalgam and the 14 km short but inaccessible route of Baltal in Kashmir.

Only 10 thousand passengers will be able to travel on both the routes everyday. Tight arrangements have been made for safe and smooth travel. This year, the holy cave, 450 km from Lakhanpur, the gateway of Jammu and Kashmir, is under strict guard. 70 thousand to 1 lakh soldiers of security forces are deployed on the Yatra route. This is the largest security gathering ever. Security checkpoints have been made at all the mountain peaks on the route. Every day a thorough check is being done on the entire route every step of the way. People coming on the route are being monitored 24 hours a day.

In view of the possibility of use of drones by terrorists, for the first time, a special anti-drone system has been installed on the travel routes. This system is connected to a special control room from where moment-to-moment monitoring is done. Apart from this, the journey on both the routes will be monitored with the help of CCTVs and drones. The routes are divided into sectors. A joint team of officers of security agencies will be stationed on every sector.

For the first time, RFID tags are being provided to passengers, so that with the help of GPS, each passenger and the vehicle carrying them can be monitored in real time. CRPF and other security forces will take each convoy of passengers to the base camp. Around 120 langars have been set up to serve the pilgrims. There is a ban on junk food since the energy level of the passengers is fine.

Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed Rather, Director, Kashmir Health Services, says that in addition to about 100 ambulances, 70 health centers have been set up for the yatra, which have 6 base hospitals, medical aid centres, emergency aid centers and 26 oxygen booths. Apart from this 11 on-route facilities and 17 other hospitals are available.

100 critical and basic care ambulances have also been placed on launch mode. A team of 1500 people including doctors, medical and paramedical staff will work in three shifts. In addition, 2 dedicated 70 bedded hospitals have been set up at Chandanwadi and Baltal.

Arrangement for accommodation of 1.3 lakh people on the entire route
Arrangements have been made for the pilgrims to stay on the entire route. Tents and prefabricated huts will be found in Baltal, Nuwan, Sheshnag, Panchtarni and Holy Caves. This accommodation will host around 70 thousand passengers. In all, arrangements have been made to host 1.30 lakh pilgrims on the entire route from Lakhanpur to the cave.

On valley alert, army started search operation on border areas
The travel route in Jammu is close to the Pakistani border. Therefore, security forces are conducting search operations along the international border to detect cross-border tunnels and prevent infiltration. In the last 40-42 days, more than 50 terrorists have been killed. There are inputs that 150 terrorists are trying to infiltrate from across the border.

For the first time with the help of helicopter, the journey will be completed in a day
This year passengers will also be able to take advantage of helicopter service. First time pilgrims can easily travel from Srinagar to Panchtarni and complete the holy journey in a single day. Special helipads have been set up at Humhama, Pahalgam and Neelgrath. Emergency helipads have also been prepared. Devotees can book the helicopter on the website of the Shrine Board. So far more than 40 thousand bookings have been done.