Jammu and Kashmir has been put on high alert ahead of the departure of the first batch of Amarnath pilgrims from Jammu on July 2.
The annual pilgrimage will formally begin on July 3, with pilgrims proceeding to the holy cave shrine via the Pahalgam and Baltal routes.
A multi-layered security system, including drones, CCTV surveillance, and an integrated command center, has been put in place to monitor and prevent any attempts to disrupt the pilgrimage.
Kashmir Inspector General of Police (IGP) VK Birdi said foolproof security arrangements have been made for the safety of the pilgrims.
He said, “Mock drills have been conducted to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of their roles in case of any contingency.” Birdi said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police has installed a network of CCTV cameras along the pilgrimage routes and other sensitive locations. “The surveillance system has facial recognition capabilities that will alert security agencies if any suspicious person is detected,” he said.
Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg also reviewed arrangements at the Srinagar International Airport to ensure smooth and hassle-free travel for pilgrims.
During the inspection, Garg reviewed facilities including dedicated e-KYC counters, travel facilitation centers, reception areas, and other passenger amenities.
He stressed the need for seamless coordination and strong communication between departments to ensure seamless services.
The number of pilgrim facilitation counters in Kashmir has been increased from 54 in 2025 to 131 in 2026. These include 59 e-KYC counters, up from 21 last year, 32 RFID counters compared to the previous 20, and 40 on-the-spot registration counters compared to 13 in 2025.
Meanwhile, the traffic police have issued an advisory restricting vehicular movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway during the movement of the yatra convoy.
According to the advisory, starting the night of July 1st, no heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) will be allowed to proceed from Qazigund to Jammu or from Jakheni in Udhampur to Srinagar after 7 p.m. Light motor vehicles (LMVs) will be allowed until 11 p.m.
On July 2nd, LMVs and private vehicles will be allowed to proceed from Nagrota to Udhampur only after the rear portion of the yatra convoy has crossed Jakheni. Similarly, traffic from Qazigund to Jammu will resume after the Baltal convoy has crossed Marog.
The advisory further states that HMVs will be allowed on alternate days, subject to traffic assessment. However, no HMV will be allowed to proceed beyond Qazigund or Jakheni after 7 p.m.
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar stated that accommodation and security arrangements have been made for approximately 55,000 pilgrims.
He said Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), will flag off the convoy from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp at 4 am on July 2.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and CRPF have been put on high alert, while the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is under strict surveillance by the CRPF.
