'SOPs, Drone Surveillance': Centre Briefs LS On Security Measures Amid Ongoing Amarnath Yatra

The Army has been deployed for corridor protection and senior-level officers have also been deployed at Pahalgam/Baltal to monitor the arrangements of Amarnath Yatra 2024.

The Centre told about security arrangements for pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir.

Source : PTI

The Centre on Tuesday told Lok Sabha that two terrorist attacks on pilgrims and 14 casualties of pilgrims have taken place in the country during the last five years between 2019 to July 29, 2024. In a written reply to the question on the steps taken by the government to ensure the safety of pilgrims, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai said that several measures are taken by the government. 

The safety measures include the issuance of Advisories from time to time, sharing of intelligence through institutional mechanisms and providing Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) whenever requested by the concerned State/ Union Territory (UT).

Mentioning specifically about Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister stated that the measures taken by the J&K government include framing and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).  The statement comes as 9 pilgrims were killed after terrorists opened fire on a bus in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi in June this year and amid ongoing Amarnath Yatra.

2 terrorist attacks on pilgrims and 14 Casualties of pilgrims during the last five years between 2019 to 29 July 2024. To ensure safety and security of pilgrims, measures taken by the Government include issuance of Advisories from time to time, sharing of intelligence through… pic.twitter.com/rAXEGlLGIG

— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2024

Installation of CCTV cameras on Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY), 2024, routes, Camps, langer points for proper surveillance and monitoring. The Centre also stated that adequate security arrangements in coordination with all security agencies have been put in place for the safety of pilgrims. 

Drone surveillance has also been put in place at sensitive locations and specialised quick action teams have been determined at appropriate and sensitive locations, the Centre stated further. 

The Army has been deployed for corridor protection and senior-level officers have also been deployed at Pahalgam/Baltal to monitor the arrangements of Amarnath Yatra 2024. 

The Centre also said that senior-level officers are supervising the Yatra by taking periodical reviews.