Mock drills held, security tightened on the eve of Amarnath Yatra

Danishwar Hameed 

Qazigund, J&K – June 25: In a move to bolster security ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, Kulgam Police on Wednesday carried out a comprehensive mock drill along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Qazigund area of South Kashmir.

The 52-day-long pilgrimage is set to commence on July 3 and will take place via both the Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The yatra will conclude on August 9, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

A senior police officer said, “We have carried out a comprehensive mock drill exercise along the highway in Qazigund. The primary objective was to provide practical training to the entire team and ensure preparedness for real-time response in case of any emergency or untoward incident.”

He further stated that every part of the pilgrimage route is under strict surveillance, combining human intelligence with technical monitoring tools. “All potential threats are being assessed and neutralized well in advance. We are following a policy of zero tolerance for any attempt to disrupt the yatra,” he added.

The authorities have assured that all security arrangements are in place to facilitate a safe and smooth pilgrimage for the devotees.