Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government has pressed highly specialized rescue teams into service to ensure safety of Amarnath yatris.
The government has upgraded rescue and emergency response mechanisms along the Amarnath yatra routes.
The government, in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, has strengthened its disaster management and rescue infrastructure this year, aiming for “zero casualties” in the event of any natural disaster or emergency during the pilgrimage.
Speaking to The Kashmir Monitor, Jammu and Kashmir Police Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) In-charge Ram Singh Salathia said 18 specialized rescue teams comprising around 200 trained personnel have been deployed along the twin routes leading to the holy cave shrine.
“We have 18 teams of the Jammu and Kashmir Police MRT trained specifically to rescue devotees in case of natural disasters or any other emergencies. Fourteen teams will be deployed along the Pahalgam route and four teams on the Baltal route,” Salathia said.
“It is a robust system that has been put in place to ensure that no casualty is reported throughout the Yatra,” he added.
The Amarnath cave shrine, located at an altitude of nearly 3,880 metres in the Himalayas, has historically remained vulnerable to landslides, flash floods and adverse weather conditions. Several pilgrims have lost their lives over the years due to natural calamities along the route.
Last year, a major landslide along the pilgrimage track claimed one life and left three others injured, underscoring the need for enhanced preparedness.
Apart from deploying additional rescue personnel, authorities have also upgraded rescue infrastructure and emergency equipment this year.
Salathia said the MRT has been equipped with advanced Avalanche Victim Detectors (AVDs), enabling rescue teams to locate victims quickly and launch real-time rescue operations in the event of avalanches or similar incidents.
“We have high-tech AVDs this year, which make it easier for us to initiate rescue operations in real time and save victims. We also have avalanche rods and other specialized rescue equipment,” he said.
To tackle medical emergencies and altitude-related health complications among pilgrims, more than 400 oxygen cylinders have been kept ready for deployment at various points along the Yatra routes.
The enhanced rescue preparedness comes as authorities expect a large turnout of pilgrims for this year’s Amarnath Yatra. Security arrangements have also been intensified, with multiple agencies coordinating efforts to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage.
Officials said the combination of upgraded rescue technology, trained personnel, medical support and strengthened security measures is expected to significantly improve emergency response capabilities during the 2026 Amarnath Yatra.