Amarnath Yatra: J&K administration conducts mock drill, reviews security

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Administration and Police conducted a mock drill to assess the overall preparedness, security, traffic and mobility plans for the upcoming 2-month-long Amarnath Yatra. The annual Amarnath Yatra lasting 62 days will begin on 1 July 2023 and end on 31 August 2023. According to reports, the Jammu and Kashmir administration and police jointly conducted a mock drill ahead of the Amarnath Yatra. The yatra convoy was sent under security and all other arrangements were properly checked by the officials.

#Watch , Before the Amarnath Yatra, the Jammu and Kashmir administration and the police jointly conducted a mock drill. The yatra convoy was dispatched under security. All arrangements were checked by the officials pic.twitter.com/gUU1OELXwt— ANI (@ANI) 27 June 2023

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also chaired a high-level meeting with senior officers of police and civil administration to review the traffic management and comprehensive mobility plan during the Amarnath Yatra. The Lt Governor directed for zone-wise traffic planning on NH-44 in close coordination with the concerned departments, district administration, Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and traffic police to ensure smooth traffic, parking and pedestrian movement. Time slots should be notified for movement of convoys, livestock, vehicles carrying essential commodities and horticulture produce. LG Singa directed the officials that strict adherence to traffic advisories, schedules and cutoff timings should be ensured.

A mock drill was also conducted earlier by the National Disaster Management Authority and District Disaster Management Authority and all concerned government and private agencies from Baltal axis to deal with any eventuality during the 2-month-long Amarnath Yatra.

Member Secretary NDMA, Kamal Kishore, Brig. BS Thackeray from NDMA; Camp Director Baltal, Ghan Shyam Singh and ADC Ganderbal, Mehraj-ud-Din Shah conducted a mock exercise on the Baltal route covering both natural and man-made disasters. The exercise was conducted to assess the overall preparedness and response measures taken at important locations to deal with any untoward incident on the Baltal route of Amarnath Yatra.

NDMA experts trained the participants on key aspects of disaster management such as formation of incident response teams, coordination among various participating agencies, evacuation, medical preparedness and trauma counselling.

He said the traffic police, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Border Roads Organization (BRO) and other agencies should also deploy more men and machinery to respond to real-time incidents and minimize the effects of breakdowns.

The LG directed traffic police officials to use integrated command and control centers for effective traffic, transit and travel demand management. He directed the Divisional Commissioners and Additional Directors General of Police (ADGPs) to exercise overall monitoring of traffic management in their respective divisions.

The use of Mughal Road, alternative routes, public utilities on Mughal Road and traffic management at Pahalgam and Sonamarg were also discussed in the meeting. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bhim Sen Tuti gave detailed information on the action plan of the yatra.

The meeting was attended by ACS Home RK Goyal, DGP Dilbag Singh, Principal Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Shailendra Kumar, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board CEO Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, all ADGPs, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, SSPs and senior officers.