Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, May 29

The Centre has begun extensive security preparations for the 2026 Amarnath Yatra, with around 700 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) set to be deployed across Jammu and Kashmir for the annual pilgrimage, officials said.

The large-scale mobilisation is part of a multi-layered security plan for the pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine, located at an altitude of 12,756 feet in the Himalayas, which draws lakhs of devotees each year.

Paramilitary personnel have already started moving into Jammu and Kashmir as part of the deployment, according to senior officials in the security establishment.

“This time, the yatra will have additional layers of security in view of the prevailing threat environment,” a senior officer said.

Official communications reviewed by Kashmir Impulse show that the government has ordered the phased deployment of CAPF personnel until the conclusion of the pilgrimage.

In the first phase, 115 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force are scheduled to be inducted into Jammu and Kashmir by May 31. Of these, 95 companies are already stationed in the region on short-term deployment, while 20 additional companies will be brought in to strengthen security arrangements ahead of the yatra.

Officials said the security plan aims to ensure comprehensive coverage with no gaps across all key areas linked to the pilgrimage.

The security grid will cover both routes leading to the shrine — the traditional Pahalgam route and the shorter but steeper Baltal route.

Special attention will be given to base camps, transit camps, assembly points, and vulnerable stretches along the trekking routes.

Advanced surveillance systems, drone monitoring, and intelligence-based operations are expected to form key components of the overall security architecture.

Officials said further details regarding the deployment plan, including the role of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, are likely to be announced closer to the start of the pilgrimage.

Held annually during the Hindu month of Shravan, usually falling in July and August, the Amarnath Yatra is one of India’s most revered Hindu pilgrimages.

In recent years, the pilgrimage has witnessed record participation, with authorities focusing on ensuring safe and smooth conduct amid heightened security concerns in the region.

Last year’s yatra was conducted under heavy security and concluded peacefully with record footfall. Officials said the 2026 pilgrimage is expected to witness similar or larger-scale arrangements, with a focus on ensuring zero tolerance towards any security lapse.