Despite the tragic terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, pilgrims choosing to undertake the Amarnath Yatra from the Pahalgam route have shown remarkable resilience. This 46-km trek, one of two paths to the Amarnath cave shrine, remains the preferred choice for many devotees, who view their journey as both a spiritual commitment and a defiant response to terrorism.
Pilgrims embarking on the Yatra expressed unwavering determination, stating, “Bullets and bombs cannot stop us from having Baba Barfani’s darshan.” They emphasized that the attack would not deter their faith. There was immense enthusiasm among devotees this year, with predictions of double the participation compared to 2024 as a “befitting reply” to terrorists.
The first batch of Amarnath Yatris embarked on their spiritual journey early this morning from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar and has successfully reached the base camps in Anantnag’s Pahalgam area and Ganderbal’s Baltal area. A total of 5,892 pilgrims made the journey, with 3,403 opting for the traditional Pahalgam route and 2,489 choosing the Baltal axis.
The pilgrims traveled in a convoy of 310 vehicles, which included 124 buses, 42 medium motor vehicles, and 144 light motor vehicles. Upon their arrival in the picturesque Kashmir Valley, they were greeted with floral garlands and enthusiastic cheers from locals and officials across districts such as Kulgam, Anantnag, Srinagar, and Bandipora. This warm reception showcased the region’s enduring spirit of communal harmony and hospitality, as local Muslims, police forces, civil society members, trade associations, fruit growers, and market groups came together to welcome the Yatris.
Following a recent attack in Pahalgam, there was a reported 10% drop in registrations; however, confidence among the Yatris appears to be on the rise, attributed largely to enhanced security measures. This year, an extensive security apparatus has been deployed to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. Approximately 42,000 security personnel are stationed in Pahalgam alone, complemented by an additional 50,000 CRPF jawans tasked with safeguarding the convoy along the national highway from Jammu to the holy cave.
In a significant upgrade to the Yatra’s security protocols, high-tech gadgetry and AI-based facial recognition systems have been introduced. For the first time, data on active terrorists and other blacklisted individuals has been integrated into the system. The innovative technology will alert authorities if any flagged individuals are detected by the Facial Recognition System (FRS) cameras. Additionally, each pilgrim will be issued RFID tags for real-time tracking throughout their pilgrimage. High-resolution CCTV cameras and drones will provide continuous surveillance, while control rooms at base camps will monitor activities closely. Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) and bomb disposal squads are also positioned at strategic locations to ensure rapid response capabilities.
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