Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted comprehensive high-altitude operational drills at 18 strategic locations along the twin routes to the Amarnath cave shrine on Sunday. The exercise aimed to assess the preparedness of mountain rescue teams (MRTs) for ensuring the security of pilgrims and timely response during emergencies, according to an official.
Deployment of Specialized Rescue Teams
To bolster safety measures for the annual pilgrimage, 45 specialized MRTs have been deployed along the 48-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district. These teams comprise personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The 57-day yatra to the cave shrine, situated at an altitude of 3,880 meters in the south Kashmir Himalayas, is scheduled to commence on July 3 via both routes.
Simultaneous Drills at Snow-Bound Locations
Simultaneous mock rescue drills were conducted at all strategic locations, many of which remain snow-bound. The exercise was designed to evaluate the MRTs' readiness for ensuring pilgrim safety and timely emergency response, said Ram Singh, the officer overseeing the 18 rescue teams along the yatra routes.
The drills involved MRTs deployed at Chandanwari, Pissu Top, Zojibal, Nagakoti, Wavbal, MG Top, Poshpathri, Kelnar, Dardkote, Sangam Top, Holy Cave, Lower Holy Cave, Y-Junction, Brarimarg, Railpathri, Domail, Panjtarni, and Sheshnag.
Objectives and Coordination Testing
The mock drill aimed to keep all rescue teams in a high state of operational readiness and evaluate their response to potential contingencies, including natural disasters, medical emergencies, landslides, flash floods, and other unforeseen incidents that may arise during the pilgrimage, the officer explained.
Ram Singh noted that the exercise also tested coordination among MRTs, communication systems, rescue equipment, evacuation procedures, and overall emergency response mechanisms to ensure the safety and well-being of devotees.
He stated that the drill was conducted successfully, with all participating teams responding satisfactorily, reaffirming their preparedness for a smooth and safe conduct of the yatra.
Commitment to Pilgrim Safety
Earlier, a spokesman said the exercises reinforced the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s commitment to ensuring a safe yatra for pilgrims. Police have urged devotees to use the ‘Pehchaan’ app to verify the antecedents of service providers during their pilgrimage to the south Kashmir Himalayas.
“It will ensure that the pilgrims only interact with verified and registered service providers. It will also help in preventing fraud, impersonation and overcharging,” the spokesman said.
