New Delhi tightens security for Hindu pilgrimage in Kashmir after Pahalgam attack
The pilgrimage (yatra) begins today to the Amarnath Temple in the Himalaya. After the attack in Pahalgam in April that cost the lives of 25 tourists, the Indian government has put in place unprecedented security measures, with paramilitary units, drones, digital mapping, and armoured vehicles. The aim is to boost tourism amid persistent tensions with Pakistan.
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – Indian authorities have tightened security measures during Amarnath Yatra, the Hindu pilgrimage that begins today in Jammu and Kashmir.
Security agencies are on enhanced alert following an attack on 22 April in Pahalgam, when more than two dozen people were killed, mostly tourists. Thousands of people from all over the country are expected to attend the event.
For Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, the goal is not only to ensure the safety of pilgrims, but also to boost tourism in Kashmir, which has been hit hard by persistent tensions with Pakistan.
The 38-day pilgrimage to the Amarnath Cave shrine, located at 3,880 metres above sea level, involves two routes: the traditional one from Pahalgam (Anantnag district) and the shorter one from Baltal (Ganderbal District).
To deal with possible terrorist threats, accidents or natural disasters, 580 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed, plus drones, dog teams, snipers, latest-generation armoured vehicles, and numerous checkpoints.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, a crucial road for the pilgrimage, will be monitored in real time with advanced technologies. Among the measures adopted are the digital mapping of the routes and facial recognition systems to track participants.
The pilgrims will be transported in bulletproof vehicles and accompanied by personnel trained in evacuation and first aid, ready to intervene in the event of landslides, accidents or roadblocks.
Considering that the pilgrimage coincides with the start of the annual monsoon season, shelters have been set up along the route. Children under 13 and seniors over 70 have been banned.
Compared to previous years, this year’s Yatra has been cut from 52 to 38 days, a decision taken by the central government to reduce risks and boost protective measures. The aim is to prevent tragedies like in Pahalgam and ensure a safe pilgrimage, which has been often marred by accidents.
Over the past year, India has recorded nine events with major fatalities, six of which during religious ceremonies, the most recent in June, during a procession at the Jagannath temple in Puri (Odisha), with three deaths and more than 50 people injured.
In this case, state authorities have been accused of “negligence” and “serious security lapses”, and an investigation is underway to shed light on the incident.
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