Srinagar, May 29 — The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the deployment of an additional 670 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, making it the largest-ever security deployment for the annual pilgrimage, officials said.
The additional forces will be deployed across the entire pilgrimage corridor, stretching from Lakhanpur in Jammu to the cave shrine located in the south Kashmir Himalayas. Officials said the security plan has been prepared jointly by the Jammu and Kashmir administration and senior security agencies.
Security arrangements will cover both the Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam routes, along with the Baltal and Nunwan base camps, Yatri Niwas Jammu, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and other major transit points.
Officials said additional paramilitary personnel are expected to begin arriving in Jammu and Kashmir during the first week of June, while the deployment process is likely to be completed by June 25.
“The deployment has been planned in a way that anti-terror operations across Jammu and Kashmir remain unaffected,” officials said.
The Indian Army will secure strategic heights along the yatra routes and areas surrounding the cave shrine, while the Jammu and Kashmir Police will coordinate overall security operations during the pilgrimage.
Authorities said special focus would remain on the Baltal and Chandanwari routes, the cave shrine area and key transit camps. Security agencies will intensify Road Opening Parties (ROPs), area domination patrols and highway surveillance during the yatra period.
Security measures have also been strengthened along the Jammu-Srinagar railway corridor in view of the anticipated increase in pilgrim movement through Vande Bharat trains. Areas including Udhampur, Katra, Reasi, Banihal and Qazigund will remain under heightened vigil.
Officials said more than 3.5 lakh pilgrims have registered for the pilgrimage since the registration process began on April 15 through designated bank branches across the country.
The 57-day Amarnath Yatra will commence simultaneously from the Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam routes on July 3 and conclude on August 28 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and Sawan Purnima.