J-K governor reviews security arrangements for Amarnath yatra

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today reviewed the security arrangements for the upcoming annual yatra to the Amarnath shrine beginning June 28.

Vohra, who is also the chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, chaired a high-level meeting at Raj Bhavan to review important security-related issues in regard to the yatra, an official spokesman said.

The meeting was attended by the top officers of civil administration and security agencies.

During the meeting, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, S P Pani, and GOC Victor Force Major General J P Mathew, made detailed presentations regarding the obtaining and emerging security environment in the state, keeping in view the envisaged objectives of forces inimical to the prevalence of peace, the spokesman said.

He said the governor stressed the need for all concerned agencies to keep a close watch and maintain effective coordination to ensure the smooth conduct of the forthcoming yatra.

The meeting held extensive discussions in regard to the issues relating to the obtaining security environment in the state, preparedness for meeting any unforeseen situation arising in the yatra area, functioning of the Joint Control Rooms (JCRs) at every yatra camp and deployment of NDRF, SDRF and Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) of the state police along with rescue teams of various security forces at identified locations on both yatra routes, the spokesman said.

They also discussed deployment of well-equipped firefighting units at pre-determined points, installation of X-Ray baggage scanning units at appropriate locations on both the yatra routes, access control arrangements at the Neelgrath, Panjtarni and Pahalgam Helipads, the spokesman said.

The governor directed the Director General of Police, Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir divisions, and Inspectors General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir divisions, to ensure wide publicity of the advisories relating to safety and security of yatris, including the cut-off timings.

Vohra directed the DGP and divisional administration, Kashmir, to strictly enforce the prescribed regulatory mechanisms and ensure that only those pilgrims who possessed valid yatra permits were allowed to undertake the yatra on the date and by the route for which they had procured the advance registration, the spokesman said.

He said the meeting also discussed the specific measures which would be enforced for ensuring smooth and unhindered movement of validly registered yatris right from the time they enter into the state and travel to the holy cave in order to prevent avoidable inconvenience to the yatris.

The governor advised the chief secretary to sensitize the disaster management agencies and ensure that all disaster management related arrangements for the yatra were subsumed within the overall disaster management framework of the state, the spokesman said.