With the Amarnath Yatra 2026 scheduled to commence on July 3, security forces in Anantnag district have ramped up preparations to ensure a safe and seamless pilgrimage for lakhs of devotees.

SSP Anantnag Amod Ashok Nagpure has affirmed that police and other agencies are fully geared up, leaving “no loopholes” in the security grid.

Giving details, SSP Nagpure said the multi-layered security apparatus put in place along the Pahalgam route from Anantnag to the holy cave shrine. “The police is ready for the Yatra,” he said.

SSP said that they have deployed 140 CRPF companies across the route from Anantnag to the cave. These, he said, are supplemented by specialised units, including Markhor (likely referring to elite mountain/commando teams), Snow Leopards, and Special Operations Group (SOG) teams of the J&K Police, along with other CRPF deployments. “Senior officers have been assigned specific responsibilities to oversee operations.

The entire area has been divided into 19 zones, with dedicated senior police officers overseeing each sector for coordinated response and monitoring,” he said.

Control rooms, he said, have been established at strategic locations to ensure real-time coordination.

“Preventive measures are in place against inimical and unwanted elements, with proactive intelligence-based actions,” he said, adding that hills and river belts are undergoing double sanitisation by the Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and J&K Police to eliminate any potential threats.

He informed that approximately 400 CCTVs have been installed along the route, with the facial recognition system significantly intensified for enhanced surveillance. Besides, he said, 28 watch towers have been set up at key vantage points to provide panoramic oversight of the terrain.

Additionally, the Pehchan app has been introduced for QR-based verification of service providers, ensuring only authorised personnel and vendors operate in the Yatra area.

SSP Nagpure extended a strong assurance to devotees: “We appeal to pilgrims to come without any fear.” He emphasised that all possible measures have been taken for their safety and convenience, urging them to focus on the spiritual journey while security forces handle the responsibility.

The Yatra, which attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually, holds immense religious significance for Hindus. This year’s arrangements come amid heightened focus on pilgrim safety following past incidents. Overall, central agencies are deploying a record number of CAPF companies (reports indicate around 670 across routes) for comprehensive protection.

Senior officials, including the SSP, have been conducting regular reviews, mock drills, and on-ground inspections in areas like Pahalgam, Langabal, and Nunwan to fine-tune arrangements. Construction and upgradation of police establishments are also progressing rapidly to bolster infrastructure.

With robust multi-agency coordination involving the Army, CAPF, J&K Police, and civil administration, authorities are optimistic about a peaceful and successful Amarnath Yatra 2026, running until August.

Srinagar, Jun 12: Director General, Rural Sanitation J&K Anoo Malhotra Friday conducted a comprehensive review of sanitation preparedness along the Baltal axis for the forthcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY)-2026, covering key locations from Baltal Base Camp up to the Holy Cave Shrine.

During the visit, the Director General inspected the ongoing sanitation infrastructure works and assessed the preparedness of various facilities being established for the smooth conduct of the Yatra.

The review focused on installation of toilets and bathing units, solid and liquid waste management systems, collection and transportation mechanisms, manpower deployment, and overall sanitation arrangements along the route.

Interacting with officers and field functionaries, Malhotra emphasized the importance of ensuring a clean, hygienic and environmentally sustainable pilgrimage experience for devotees.

Accompanied by Assistant Commissioner Panchayat Ganderbal, BDO Gund and representatives of executing agencies and other officials, she directed all concerned agencies to expedite the pace of ongoing works and ensure their completion well within the stipulated timelines.

The Director General stressed the need for effective waste management measures, including timely collection, segregation, transportation and scientific disposal of waste generated during the Yatra. She also underscored the importance of maintaining all sanitation facilities in fully functional condition and ensuring adequate manpower deployment for round-the-clock cleanliness and upkeep.

During the review, site-specific requirements and challenges were discussed in detail, and necessary instructions were issued for addressing identified gaps on priority. Officers were directed to closely monitor progress and maintain strict adherence to quality standards in the execution of sanitation-related works. Malhotra reiterated the commitment of the Rural Sanitation Department towards ensuring comprehensive sanitation coverage along the Yatra route and called for close coordination among all stakeholder departments and implementing agencies.

New Delhi, Jun 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday urged the Centre to review the proposed closure of Srinagar Airport in October, citing concerns over tourism, connectivity, and public convenience in Jammu and Kashmir.

During meetings with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, CM Omar sought alternatives including phased runway works, a revised closure schedule, and contingency flight operations from Awantipora to minimise disruption.

CM Omar separately met Union Defence Minister Singh and Union Minister for Civil Aviation Naidu in New Delhi and raised concerns over the proposed closure of Srinagar International Airport from October 1 to 16, 2026, scheduled under Phase III of the runway resurfacing project.

During the meetings, the CM underscored the importance of maintaining uninterrupted air connectivity to Jammu and Kashmir, particularly during the peak autumn tourism season when the Valley attracts a large number of visitors from across the country.

While acknowledging that the resurfacing works are essential for operational safety and fully respecting the operational assessment of the Indian Air Force, CM Omar expressed concern over the timing of the final phase of the project, which coincides with one of the busiest periods for the tourism sector.

The CM informed the Union Ministers that air services to the Valley had already been curtailed since April owing to the earlier phases of the resurfacing programme.

He said that a complete suspension of flights during the first half of October would adversely affect tourism, hospitality, transport, handicrafts, and allied sectors that sustain thousands of livelihoods across J&K.

Highlighting the broader economic implications, CM Omar said the proposed closure could lead to large-scale travel disruptions and cancellations, causing inconvenience to residents and visitors alike while impacting business activity during a crucial tourism season.

In his meeting with the Defence Minister, the CM requested that the Indian Air Force examine the possibility of shortening or phasing the final stage of the runway works without compromising safety or operational requirements.

He requested that, in the event a complete closure of Srinagar Airport becomes unavoidable, minimal civil flight operations, commensurate with the operational capacity of the Awantipora Air Base, may be permitted from the air base during the closure period to ensure essential air connectivity for the region.

Recalling his earlier tenure as CM, he noted that during the runway resurfacing works in September 2010, civil flights had successfully operated from Awantipora under a coordinated arrangement involving the Ministries of Defence and Civil Aviation.

“We are working on possible alternatives to minimise the disruption and maintain a basic flight schedule as was done in the past when the airport closed for similar reasons in 1998 & 2010,” the CM said.

During his meeting with the Union Civil Aviation Minister, he sought intervention to facilitate discussions with the Ministry of Defence on reviewing the timing of Phase III, including the possibility of shortening, phasing or shifting the closure to a leaner travel window without compromising safety requirements.

CM Omar also requested that contingency arrangements be explored in coordination with the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force to ensure continued air connectivity to the Valley in the event the closure remains unavoidable.

The CM emphasised that any alternative operational arrangement would require extensive inter-agency coordination and advance planning, and therefore needed to be initiated well ahead of the scheduled closure period.