Police in J&K's Ganderbal conducts mock drill to strengthen security for upcoming Amarnath Yatra
Srinagar, June 28
The Police in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district conducted a mock drill on Sunday to strengthen security for the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026, police officials said.
A police statement said, "In a significant step towards ensuring foolproof security arrangements and effective emergency preparedness for the forthcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026, Ganderbal Police today conducted comprehensive mock drills at multiple strategic locations across the district."
The drills were conducted at Model Naka Chinner, Kijpora and Margund, focusing on enhancing coordination, preparedness and swift response capabilities among all agencies involved in the smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage.
The Ganderbal Police, Central Armed Police Forces, State Disaster Response Force, Fire and Emergency Services, Health Department and other concerned stakeholders actively participated in the exercises.
The drills simulated various emergency scenarios to assess the operational readiness, inter-agency coordination, evacuation procedures and response mechanisms.
During the exercises, the participating teams demonstrated prompt action, effective communication and coordinated efforts, ensuring that all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and contingency plans are thoroughly tested and streamlined ahead of the Yatra.
The Ganderbal Police reiterated its commitment towards providing a safe, secure and hassle-free pilgrimage experience to the devotees while maintaining the highest standards of security and preparedness throughout the Yatra period.
Amarnath Yatra starts on July 3 and will conclude on August 28 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.
The cave shrine situated 3,880 feet above the sea level is situated in Kashmir Himalayas in the Anantnag district.
Yatris use either the longer traditional Pahalgam base camp route or the shorter Baltal base camp route.
Those using the Pahalgam route reach the cave shrine after four days while those using the Baltal base camp route return to the base camp the same day after having 'Darshan' inside the cave shrine.
The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.
Devotees believe the ice stalagmite structure symbolises mythical powers of Lord Shiva.
Since the route beyond the two base camps to the cave shrine has been declared as a 'no fly zone', no helicopters are available for the devotees during this year's Yatra.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Impressive coordination between multiple agencies! The inter-agency drills and SOP testing are crucial for such a massive pilgrimage. I appreciate the thoroughness shown here. However, I do hope the 'no fly zone' declaration doesn't cause inconvenience for elderly or disabled pilgrims who might need helicopter access.
As someone who has done the Yatra before, security is always a concern. Happy to hear about these drills. But I wish they'd fix the roads near Pahalgam route - got stuck there last year for hours due to poor conditions! Security plus good roads would make the experience much better.
Solid preparation by the police. The drill locations (Chinner, Kijpora, Margund) are key transit points. The SDRF and health departments being involved is smart - medical emergencies are common at high altitude. Just hope the weather cooperates this year!
I'm glad they are doing this months before the Yatra starts on July 3rd. The ice stalagmite is a beautiful natural phenomenon and it's heartwarming that so many devotees make the journey. But one question - are there enough toilets and drinking water facilities along the routes? That's equally important for safety and comfort.
Great initiative to involve CAPF, SDRF, fire services, and health departments together. The 'no fly zone' is a bit concerning but I understand the security reasoning. However, I hope the police also conduct these drills near the actual cave shrine area, not just the approach routes.
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