SRINAGAR: In a major preemptive measure to bolster protection during the upcoming Amarnath pilgrimage, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has issued a blanket ban on aerial movement across the entire route of the Yatra, designating it a “Prohibited Airspace Zone.”
This stringent order, enforced by the Home Department of the Union Territory, covers all segments of the pilgrimage trail, including the Pahalgam and Baltal corridors, which are traditionally the two main access points to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The restriction is applicable to every category of airborne apparatus, ranging from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones to recreational flying objects such as balloons.
The directive will be in force from July 1 through August 10 and stems from an advisory issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
However, exemptions will be made in cases involving emergency airlifts, natural calamity responses, and surveillance operations led by authorized security units. A formal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlining the guidelines for these exceptions will be released in due course.
On Tuesday morning, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan landed in Srinagar to preside over a high-level review meeting with senior officials to evaluate the overall security framework for the Yatra.
This year’s pilgrimage is set to begin on July 3 and conclude on August 9, lasting 38 days, down from last year’s 52-day schedule. Officials attributed the shortened duration to revised security and logistical assessments.
The Amarnath Yatra draws lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad. However, its history has often been shadowed by threats from terrorist organizations.
In light of increasing drone-based arms trafficking and the potential use of flying devices in orchestrated attacks, tactics gaining traction in insurgency-prone areas, the government’s move is seen as a deterrent to emerging airborne threats.
The April 22 terror incident in Pahalgam, where 25 tourists and a local citizen lost their lives, has further prompted the state to tighten its protective perimeter this year.
To ensure seamless security, nearly 580 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be stationed along the pilgrimage trail. Their deployment will be bolstered by aerial reconnaissance, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tagging of pilgrims, and layered security arrangements on the ground.
With the sacred journey just two weeks away, officials are not taking any risks. “Given the challenges at hand, enforcing a no-fly zone is a prudent and necessary precaution,” a senior police officer said.
