The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has approved deployment of 670 companies of Central Armed Police Forces for the 57-day Amarnath Yatra beginning July 3, the largest-ever paramilitary deployment for the annual pilgrimage, official sources said.
The security cover will span from Lakhanpur entry point to the holy cave shrine, covering the Baltal and Pahalgam routes, base camps, Yatri Niwas Jammu, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and the Pathankot-Jammu highway. The entire deployment is to be completed by June 25. The Indian Army will secure strategic heights while J&K Police will coordinate operations throughout.
Enhanced security has also been planned along the Jammu-Srinagar railway corridor, particularly for Vande Bharat Express trains carrying pilgrims through Udhampur, Katra, Reasi, Banihal and Qazigund. Over 3.5 lakh pilgrims have already registered since April 15. The yatra concludes August 28 on Raksha Bandhan.
