Amarnath Yatra began in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday (July 1) amidst increased security. On the first day of the Amarnath Yatra, over 3400 registered pilgrims started their trip. The pilgrims who had arrived at the base camps at Nunwan, Pahalgam, and Baltal, Sonamarg, began their trip to the Holy cave before dawn.
This year, the Amarnath Yatra will last 62 days, during which time more than 60 thousand security personnel will be stationed along the pilgrims’ route and in the Holy Cave. For the Yatra to be conducted peacefully, a three-tier security system has been implemented. Pilgrims will go via two ways to reach the Holy Cave, which is located in the Himalayan peaks of South Kashmir at a height of 3,880 metres.
TRF, a Lashkar-affiliated terrorist group, has threatened the Amarnath Yatra. Additionally, the majority of the security measures have been delegated to the Jammu and Kashmir Police as well as paramilitary troops like the CRPF. Forces have been sent from the Jammu area to Kashmir along the National Highway.
The government has taken all necessary precautions in the event of a natural calamity brought on by unpredictable weather, etc. On each of the Yatra’s routes, hundreds of members of the Disaster Management, SDRF, and NDRF teams have been stationed. For the protection of the pilgrims, the government has also taken care to employ the most recent tools and technology.
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags have been sent to all registered Yatris participating in the trip. This is done to ensure that every pilgrim is identified and that the authorities are aware of their precise positions throughout the pilgrimage. All of the Yatra’s pathways are covered by CCTV cameras.
At the base camps and throughout the Yatra routes, there are hundreds of langars, or free food stands. Additionally, the locals have opened stores for the pilgrims. Additionally, the government has set up several amenities for the pilgrims, including ATMs.
For the sake of the pilgrims taking part in the Amarnath Yatra, the government has also built a temporary 100-bed hospital at the base camps at Chandanwari and Nunwan.
