Srinagar, June 10: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday reviewed preparations for the upcoming Amarnath yatra, scheduled to begin on July 3.
"Today, chaired a high-level review meeting on preparations for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026 and directed all departments and security agencies to ensure timely completion of arrangements from infrastructure and security to healthcare, sanitation, connectivity, and pilgrim services," Sinha said in a post on X.
Several preparatory meetings have already been held at the district and base camp levels in Jammu, Anantnag and Ganderbal districts to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage, officials said.
The yatra will begin on July 3 and conclude on August 28, Sinha said.
"Our collective goal is to ensure a safe, seamless, and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage for every devotee of Baba Barfani," he added.
Meanwhile, ahead of start of the yatra, paramilitary CRPF has significantly intensified its security deployment across Jammu and Kashmir, scaling up counter-terror operations in vulnerable high-altitude zones while enforcing strict surveillance across the plains.
The heightened security measures come as part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure a peaceful and incident-free pilgrimage, which will run for 57 days and conclude on August 28.
Officials said the move aims to reinforce the existing security grid, considering the large influx of pilgrims expected to undertake the arduous journey to the cave shrine nestled in the Kashmir Himalayas.
The decision to step up operations was taken following specific directions from CRPF Director General GP Singh, who is currently on a three-day visit to the Valley.
On the first day of his visit, Singh chaired a high-level security review meeting in Srinagar with senior CRPF officials and field commanders.
Officials said the primary focus of the meeting was to strengthen coordination and intensify counter-terror preparedness along the Yatra routes.
"The key focus of the meeting was to enhance security grids to maintain peace and normalcy for a safe and incident-free Amarnath yatra,” they said.
According to officials, CRPF commanders have been directed to scale up counter-terror operations on higher ridges while maintaining strict, round-the-clock vigil across the plains.
"The step is part of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) adopted ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage, considering its importance as a large number of devotees visit the cave during the nearly two-month-long pilgrimage that starts from two different axes-- Pahalgam and Baltal," an official said.
In view of the security, all routes of Amarnathji Yatra--including both the Pahalgam and Baltal axes-- are already declared as 'No Flying Zone' from July 1 till completion of the Yatra.
The authorities have declared that helicopter services for pilgrim travel shall not be available in the Yatra area during this year’s yatra.