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Massive force deployment aims to ensure safe pilgrimage across Kashmir
In one of the largest security deployments ever for the annual Amarnath Yatra, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the deployment of 670 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for the 57-day pilgrimage scheduled from July 3 to August 28 this year. Officials described the deployment as unprecedented, reflecting both the growing scale of the pilgrimage and heightened security concerns following recent terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, including the deadly Pahalgam attack earlier last year.
The annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas will commence simultaneously from the traditional Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The yatra will conclude on August 28 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and Sawan Purnima.
According to officials, CAPF personnel will secure the entire pilgrimage corridor stretching from Lakhanpur to the cave shrine. Security arrangements will cover the Baltal and Pahalgam tracks, Nunwan and Baltal base camps, Yatri Niwas Jammu, transit camps, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and other vulnerable points.
Additional forces are expected to begin arriving in Jammu and Kashmir during the first week of June, while the full deployment is likely to be completed by June 25.
The Indian Army will dominate strategic heights overlooking the yatra routes and areas surrounding the cave shrine, while the Jammu and Kashmir Police will coordinate overall security management and anti-terror operations during the pilgrimage period.
Officials said elaborate arrangements have been designed in such a way that ongoing anti-terror operations across the Union Territory remain unaffected.
Special attention is being given to the Baltal and Chandanwari sectors, major transit camps and vulnerable stretches along the national highway. Security agencies are expected to intensify Road Opening Parties (ROPs), aerial surveillance, area domination patrols and electronic monitoring throughout the yatra period. Security along the Jammu-Srinagar railway corridor has also been significantly enhanced in anticipation of increased pilgrim movement through the newly introduced Vande Bharat Express rail services. Areas including Udhampur, Katra, Reasi, Banihal and Qazigund have been placed under heightened surveillance.
The large-scale security mobilisation comes barely months after the April 2025 terror attack near Pahalgam’s Baisaran area, where militants opened fire on tourists, killing 26 people and injuring several others. The attack triggered nationwide outrage and raised fresh concerns over tourist and pilgrim security in Kashmir ahead of the Amarnath Yatra. Security agencies subsequently launched intensified counter-terror operations across south Kashmir to neutralise militant networks and secure the pilgrimage routes.
Despite security concerns, enthusiasm among devotees remains high. Officials said more than 3.5 lakh pilgrims have already registered for this year’s yatra since the registration process began on April 15 through designated bank branches across the country. The pilgrimage witnessed record-breaking participation last year as more than 5.12 lakh devotees visited the holy cave shrine, the highest turnout in the past 12 years. The 2024 yatra, which lasted 52 days, surpassed previous attendance figures amid improved infrastructure, extensive security arrangements and favourable weather conditions.
Officials believe this year’s pilgrimage could witness even higher participation, making security preparedness and logistical coordination crucial for ensuring a smooth and incident-free yatra.
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