65K CAPF, Pahchan App, hi-tech surveillance
SRINAGAR: From 65000 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to specialized ` Pahchan App’ and from hi-tech surveillance system to tactical area domination, Shri Amarnath Yatra is set to get the smartest security cover this year.
For the first time, Anantnag police have launched `Pahchan App’, a QR-based mobile application designed to register and regulate service providers operating along the yatra route and at key tourist destinations. The application enables instant, on-spot verification of service providers and creates a secure ecosystem by clearly differentiating registered and verified individuals from unregistered ones.
“The primary objective behind launching the Pahchan App is to strengthen the overall security grid during the Yatra period by preventing the entry of unverified or anti-social elements in the guise of service providers. By creating a digital record of all authorized persons, the app brings greater transparency and accountability to the services offered to pilgrims and tourists. It will also aid in smooth crowd management, as organized and regulated service delivery reduces disputes, overcharging, and congestion on the Yatra tracks,” police said.
Police said the initiative is expected to create a strong positive impression among the public. It will instill confidence among Yatries, tourists and local citizens by visibly regulating services and ensuring that they interact only with verified individuals. “The app empowers genuine service providers by giving them a digital identity and formal recognition, while simultaneously projecting Police as a proactive and technology-driven force committed to facilitating a safe and hassle-free pilgrimage,” police said.
More than 670 companies of CAPF will be deployed to provide security for the yatris during the 57-day pilgrimage. They will be in addition to the Jammu and Kashmir police and army troops deployed in the Union territory. The paramilitary troops have already started arriving in Kashmir.
This year, forces are also focusing on security along the Jammu-Srinagar railway line. A large number of pilgrims are expected to travel by Vande Bharat Express trains from Jammu to Srinagar before their onward journey to the cave shrine.
The 57-day pilgrimage will commence on July 3 and conclude on August 28. The advance registration for the Yatra started on April 15 through offline and online modes. Over 3.5 lakh yatris have been registered for this year’s annual Shri Amarnath pilgrimage till May end.
Last year, more than 4.1 lakh devotees visited the cave shrine in 37 days. This is despite the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, on April 22, 2025.