Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra has asked security agencies to keep a strict vigil on the security and safety of pilgrims undertaking the holy Amarnath Yatra beginning on 28 June.

Vohra, who is also the chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), chaired a high level meeting at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar on Wednesday to review important security related issues in regard to the pilgrimage in south Kashmir.

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He ordered deployment of Mountain Rescue Teams, NDRF and SDRF on the two pilgrimage routes from Pahalgam and Baltal.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary BB Vyas, Principal Secretary, Home, RK Goyal; DGP SP Vaid, GOC, 15 Corps, Lt Gen AK Bhatt; GOC, Victor Force, Maj Gen JP Mathews; IGP, Kashmir, SP Pani, heads of state and central intelligence agencies, senior officers of the Central Armed Police Forces, and the CEO and additional CEO of the Shrine Board.

IGP Pani, and GOC, Victor Force, Major General Mathew made detailed presentations regarding the emerging security environment in the state, keeping in view the envisaged objectives of forces inimical to the prevalence of peace.

The governor stressed the need for all agencies concerned to keep a close watch and maintain effective co-ordination to ensure the smooth conduct of the forthcoming Yatra. The meeting held extensive discussions with regard to all aspects of safety and security.

The governor advised the chief secretary to sensitise the disaster management agencies and ensure that all disaster management-related arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra were subsumed within the overall disaster management framework of the state.

He directed the CS to chair an early meeting with the DGP, the GOC of 15 Corps, and heads of all other security agencies to ensuring pooling of their disaster-related resources at designated locations on the Yatra route.

The meeting was also attended by Additional Director General, CRPF, J&K Zone, VSK Kaumudi; Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Executive Officer, SASB, Umang Narula; IG, CRPF (Operations), Zulfiquar Hasan; Additional DGP, CID, AG Mir; ADGP, Security & Home Guards, Muneer Ahmed Khan; IG, BSF, Sonali Mishra; IG, CRPF, Srinagar Sector, Ravi Deep Singh Sahi; Group Capt S Roy Chowdhury, Air Force Station, Srinagar; and Additional Chief Executive Officer, SASB, Bhupinder Kumar.

Matters discussed at the meeting:

Preparedness for meeting any unforeseen situation arising in the Yatra area

Functioning of Joint Control Rooms at every Yatra camp

Deployment of NDRF, SDRF and Mountain Rescue Teams along with rescue teams of various security forces at identified locations on both Amarnath Yatra routes

Deployment of well equipped fire-fighting units at pre-determined points

Installation of X-ray baggage scanning units at appropriate locations on both routes

Access control arrangements at Neelgrath, Panjtarni and Pahalgam helipads

Enforcement of effective access control system at Baltal and Nunwan base camps and at Domel and Chandanawari access control gates

Effective traffic regulation from Lakhanpur Check Post onwards

ATC arrangements for heli services from Pahalgam and Neelgrath to Panjtarni

Arrangements at transit camp

Installation of CCTVs at various camps