Home Minister Amit Shah has affirmed that the central government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration are fully committed to ensuring the smooth conduct of the upcoming annual Amarnath Yatra, pledging to provide all necessary facilities for pilgrims.
The 38-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-meter-high cave shrine in south Kashmir is set to commence on July 3 and conclude on August 9, as announced by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). Shah, via X, emphasized that “The central government and J&K administration will leave no stone unturned to facilitate the pilgrims with all necessary facilities.” He has directed officials to maintain peak vigilance to ensure a seamless yatra.
On Thursday night, the Home Minister presided over a high-level review meeting to assess the security arrangements and overall preparedness for the Amarnath pilgrimage. During this meeting, he also reviewed the broader security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shah’s visit to the Union Territory, his first since Operation Sindoor, began on Thursday evening amid tight security. His purpose is to assess the situation and meet those affected in Poonch. Over his two-day stay in the Jammu region, Shah is scheduled to visit religious sites on Friday and engage with local residents and BSF personnel impacted by shelling in the district. Poonch has tragically recorded the highest number of civilian casualties, with 14 out of 28 deaths, resulting from Pakistani shelling and drone attacks between May 7 and 10.
Pilgrims undertaking the Amarnath Yatra can choose between two routes: the traditional 48-km path via Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district or the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. To bolster security for the pilgrimage, the Centre has authorized the deployment of 580 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), totaling approximately 42,000 on-ground personnel.
