Multi-Agency Mock Drill Held at Jammu Base Camp Ahead of Amarnath Yatra

By Mahima Katal

Jammu, June 23: Security and disaster response agencies on Tuesday conducted a comprehensive mock drill at the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu to assess preparedness ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to begin on July 3.

The exercise, which commenced at 8 am, involved personnel from the National Security Guard (NSG), Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Officials said the drill was designed to simulate various emergency situations and evaluate the coordination, response time, and operational readiness of participating agencies before the start of the 57-day pilgrimage.

The Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas serves as the primary transit camp for pilgrims arriving from different parts of the country before they proceed to Kashmir for the pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine, which houses the naturally formed ice Shiva Lingam.

Authorities said the exercise included the deployment of advanced surveillance equipment, including drones, to monitor activities and strengthen security measures. Dog squads were also pressed into service for anti-sabotage operations and area sanitisation checks.

The mock drill focused on testing inter-agency coordination, crowd management strategies, emergency evacuation protocols, and counter-terror response capabilities.

Officials said the exercise forms part of the broader security and logistical preparations being undertaken to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage season.

The first batch of pilgrims is expected to leave the Jammu base camp on July 2, a day before the yatra officially begins. Pilgrims will travel via the traditional 48-kilometre Pahalgam route in Anantnag district or the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

Security arrangements across the pilgrimage routes have been intensified in view of the large number of devotees expected to participate in this year's Amarnath Yatra.