JAMMU: officials said on Saturday the Army is conducting area domination patrols daily along the Jammu-Srinagar NH with drones, surveillance equipment and sniffer dogs to ensure a secure passage for Amarnath pilgrims.
The multi-security grid responsible for supporting a peaceful and incident-free pilgrimage lasting 62 days starting on July 1 includes the highway drills, according to officials.
From Jammu to Banihal and beyond, according to senior security personnel, “the Army conducts intense area domination patrolling along the entire route of the yatra, providing security to pilgrims.”
According to him, this proactive strategy creates a barrier to stop terrorists from entering the national highway and attacking pilgrim convoys.
In order to fulfil their security responsibilities, the soldiers methodically sanitise the route and several hinterland areas while using cutting-edge tools including drones, metal detectors, surveillance equipment, and sniffer dogs, according to the officials.
They said that the Northern Army commander and the corps commanders frequently examine the ground situation and supervise the security procedures.
According to the official, “These tireless efforts, frequently carried out in trying circumstances, significantly contribute to the successful execution of the pilgrimage while prioritising the safety and well-being of the pilgrims.”
On July 1, Pahalgam in the Anantnag district and Baltal in the Ganderbal district began the 62-day yearly pilgrimage to the famous 3,888-meter-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas.
43,833 pilgrims have already left the Jammu base camp in seven separate batches for the valley. The first group of pilgrims was signalled off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
On August 31, when the yatra is supposed to come to an end, more than 86,000 worshippers had already visited the cave temple.
According to the officials, the Amarnath yatra draws pilgrims from all over the world and makes a substantial economic impact on the region, helping both larger towns and cities in Jammu and Kashmir as well as tiny villages along the path.
