Srinagar, June 17: With the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra scheduled to commence on July 3, security and disaster-response preparations have entered the final phase, with Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat set to flag off paramilitary personnel and specialized Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) from the SDRF Headquarters in Srinagar on Thursday.
Sources said a large number of personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF and BSF have completed an extensive joint training program aimed at enhancing coordination, emergency response and pilgrim safety during the forthcoming pilgrimage.
Following the flag-off ceremony, the trained personnel will be deployed along the Baltal and Pahalgam routes, forming a crucial component of the multi-layered security and rescue apparatus for the yatra.
DIG CRPF Srinagar North Sudhir Kumar, who has been serving as the nodal officer for the pilgrimage for the past three years, said the CRPF deploys highly trained Mountain Rescue Teams along pilgrimage axes to ensure the safety and well-being of devotees undertaking the arduous journey to the holy cave shrine.
He said the MRTs are tasked with providing immediate medical assistance, administering first aid to pilgrims suffering from altitude-related ailments and physical exhaustion, and assisting devotees negotiating difficult stretches of mountainous terrain.
“The teams remain prepared to respond to any exigency and are trained to conduct rescue operations during medical emergencies, landslides, flash floods and other natural calamities,” Kumar said.
According to him, the teams work in close coordination with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army and other agencies to ensure a swift and synchronized response during emergencies.
The MRT units have been strategically positioned at vulnerable and high-altitude locations along both the Baltal route in Ganderbal district and the Pahalgam route in Anantnag district to facilitate rapid intervention whenever required.
Sudhir Kumar said the deployment reflects the meticulous planning undertaken by security and civil agencies to ensure a safe, smooth and incident-free pilgrimage for the thousands of devotees expected to participate in this year’s yatra. [KNT]
