Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Thursday flagged off 45 mountain rescue teams that will be deployed along the two routes of the Amarnath Yatra.
The teams include personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Border Security Force (BSF). They will be stationed at 21 locations along the twin routes leading to the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir.
SDRF Director Imtiyaz Hussain Mir said the teams will be available throughout the pilgrimage to help devotees. He said they will provide all necessary assistance and will respond immediately in case of any emergency or natural disaster.
Mir said the Amarnath Yatra is one of the country's most important religious pilgrimages. He said the Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with other security agencies, play a key role in ensuring the smooth conduct of the yatra. The mountain rescue teams are specially trained, and many of them have served during previous pilgrimages. They are equipped to assist pilgrims, especially during emergencies.
Mir said additional efforts have been made this year and more equipment has been provided to strengthen the deployment. He said authorities are working to improve facilities for the rescue teams so they can serve pilgrims more effectively. He expressed confidence that the yatra would be successful and said all agencies would carry out their responsibilities fully.
Meanwhile, security forces conducted mock drills in several districts of the Valley as part of preparations for the annual pilgrimage, officials said. The Amarnath Yatra this year will begin on July 3 and conclude on August 28.
Officials said the drills are aimed at testing and improving security arrangements, emergency response systems and coordination among different agencies to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage.
On Thursday, such mock drills were carried out in Pulwama and Kulgam districts of south Kashmir.
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