Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have intensified mock drills for the Amarnath Yatra starting from July 3. The CRPF, Army and J&K Police are testing their preparedness to deal with terror attacks and emergencies, so that the Yatra can be conducted safely and smoothly.
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [भारत]June 30 (ANI): Ahead of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra starting from July 3, security forces and civil administration have intensified mock drills in Jammu and Kashmir to test their preparedness for the pilgrimage and ensure fool-proof security arrangements.
What is the purpose of mock drill?
The exercise is being conducted to assess the preparedness, coordination and emergency response capabilities of the security forces and civil agencies to ensure safe and smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage.
The mock drill is being conducted at various places along both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes as well as at major transit camps, base camps and other sensitive places associated with the pilgrimage.
Personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and other partner security agencies as well as health services, fire and emergency departments and civil administration are participating in these exercises.
These drills are designed to test the response of security forces and civilian agencies to a variety of emergency situations including terrorist attacks, improvised explosive device (IED) threats, medical emergencies, fire incidents, natural disasters and crowd management scenarios.
Officials said these exercises also aim to evaluate mutual coordination between agencies, communication systems, evacuation procedures and response time during emergencies.
Security personnel are practicing rescue operations, casualty evacuation, traffic management, emergency medical response and disaster management protocols to ensure quick and coordinated response to any emergent situation. Officials said the mock drill is aimed at identifying operational shortcomings ahead of the arrival of the pilgrims, strengthening coordination between agencies and strengthening the overall security grid.
CRPF told ‘three-tier’ security plan
Speaking to ANI, Devendra Pal, Commandant of CRPF’s 46th battalion, said, “See, this time the Amarnath Yatra is of 57-58 days. Overall, it is more than 60 days. Various intelligence agencies have analyzed all the threats associated with this Yatra. Their feedback has been received, and our own assessment has also been taken into consideration. CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police and other partners A multi-tier security arrangement has been made by all agencies: Tier-1, Tier-3, the national highways from Jammu and Baltal have been secured. In Tier-3, tactical operating bases have been secured. (TOB) has also been integrated into the security grid with proper coordination. Overall, this year’s security arrangement has multiple layers and multiple agencies working with full coordination and cooperation. Hence, we can say that the level of security is top notch.”
“Yes, the objective of the mock drill is to ensure that our men and all our teams are as prepared as possible for real-life situations. Since there are multiple forces involved, it is important to strengthen mutual coordination among them. Mock drills help us understand real-time ground situations and respond effectively. They also enable us to identify any gaps in our preparedness so that they can be immediately rectified. As you mentioned, at different levels – in different camps, NH “Mock drills are being conducted smoothly along the border and in the hinterland. These drills are being conducted at all key locations to ensure comprehensive preparedness.”
Amarnath Yatra will continue for 57 days
The annual pilgrimage to the holy Amarnath cave, located at an altitude of about 3,880 meters in the Himalayas of South Kashmir, is one of the most important religious pilgrimages in the country. Devotees travel to visit the naturally formed ice Shivalinga, which is considered a symbol of Lord Shiva.
This year’s 57-day pilgrimage will begin on July 3 simultaneously with the traditional 48-km Nunawan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The journey will conclude with the festival of Raksha Bandhan on August 28.
Authorities have put in place a multi-layered security arrangement including deployment of thousands of security personnel, round-the-clock surveillance, road opening parties, anti-sabotage checks, drone surveillance and rapid response teams to ensure a peaceful and incident-free pilgrimage.
The ongoing mock drill is an important part of these comprehensive security preparations aimed at protecting the thousands of pilgrims who visit the holy cave shrine during the annual pilgrimage. (ANI)
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