The annual Amarnath Yatra has commenced, with the initial group of pilgrims starting their journey from the Nunwan Pahalgam base camp. This year’s pilgrimage to the sacred cave shrine at an altitude of 3,880 meters in the South Kashmir Himalayas is taking place under strict security measures, implemented in response to the recent terror attack in the region. Pilgrims have the option of two routes: the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the shorter 14-km Baltal route. Despite the security concerns, hundreds of devotees have begun their spiritual journey, demonstrating their unwavering faith. Authorities have deployed a robust three-tier security framework, including approximately 42,000 security personnel stationed in Pahalgam and an additional 50,000 CRPF jawans securing the convoy along the national highway. New security upgrades include AI-based facial recognition, RFID tracking for pilgrims, high-resolution CCTV cameras, and drone surveillance.
