Shortly after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday appealed to the devotees to turn up in large numbers at Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, which is scheduled to begin from July 3, a joint team of security forces gunned down a terrorist in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district.
An elite Para Commando of the Indian Army was earlier ‘killed in action’ during a similar cordon and search operation in the forest area of Dudu Basantgarh on April 24 this year. The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps, in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, launched Operation Bihali after receiving credible intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the Bihali area of Basantgarh. “Contact was established with the terrorists early this morning, and one terrorist has been neutralised so far,” an Army spokesperson confirmed.
At the time of filing the report, at least two more terrorists belonging to the same group were trapped by the forces.
Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, said, “Security forces, including elite Para Commandos and CRPF units, have been deployed to cordon off the area, with drones and sniffer dogs assisting in the search. Reinforcements have been rushed to the site to tighten the cordon and prevent the terrorists’ escape.
Addressing a press conference at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar, LG Manoj Sinha acknowledged the impact of the April 22 Pahalgam attack on pilgrim registrations. “Before April 22, 2,36,801 people had registered. After the incident, there was a slight drop of about 10.19 per cent compared to last year’s 5.12 lakh pilgrims. However, as of yesterday, over 85,000 pilgrims have confirmed their Yatra, and I am hopeful the numbers will continue to rise,” he said.
To restore public confidence, the administration has implemented a robust, multi-layered security grid. LG Sinha emphasized that the Indian Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) along with the Jammu & Kashmir Police, have taken comprehensive measures for a safe pilgrimage. “A three-tier security arrangement is in place at all base camps and along the pilgrimage routes,” Sinha stated. High-quality surveillance cameras and mandatory RFID tracking for pilgrims have been introduced to enable real-time monitoring.
The Jammu & Kashmir Police also issued a key advisory, urging pilgrims to avoid independent travel and to move only in escorted convoys from Jammu to the base camps at Baltal and Nunwan. Helicopter services, which typically cater to about 8% of pilgrims, have been suspended this year due to security and logistical concerns.
Sinha said the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) has made significant strides in improving pilgrim-centric facilities over the past two years.
He said the yatra tracks on both the 48-km Pahalgam route and the 14-km Baltal route have been widened to approximately 12 feet, with the challenging Kalimata stretch on the Pahalgam axis now featuring a gentler slope.
Stronger safety handrails have been installed along the entire Baltal track and over 20 km of vulnerable stretches on the Pahalgam route.
Grid power connectivity has been extended along the Baltal track to the holy cave and from the cave to Panjtarni, with work ongoing for the Pahalgam route. Yatri Niwas complexes at Baltal (800 beds), Nunwan (900 beds), and Pantha Chowk (1,000 beds) have been upgraded.
Sinha said 100-bedded hospitals are operational at both the base camps, with expanded clinical bed capacity at Panjtarni and upper camps. Special focus has been placed on cleanliness and sustainability, with facilities like cloakrooms, e-rickshaws, and prasad counters introduced.
