No Helicopter Service for Amarnath Yatra Pilgrims This Year Amid Security Concerns
The Amarnath Shrine Board announced the cancellation of helicopter services for this year's pilgrimage as the Jammu and Kashmir government declared pilgrimage routes a ‘no-fly zone’ from July 1 to August 10. This unprecedented security measure, prohibiting UAVs, drones, and balloons, follows the recent Pahalgam terror attack. Pilgrims must now undertake the yatra on foot or use traditional pony and palki services, impacting travel for many devotees.
Unpacked:
Helicopter services and drones were banned as a security measure following the recent Pahalgam terror attack and high threat inputs. Authorities declared the pilgrimage routes ‘no-fly zones’ to prevent any aerial threats and enhance overall safety for pilgrims during the yatra.
The ban forces all pilgrims to travel on foot or use ponies and palkis, which can make the yatra more physically demanding. This may particularly inconvenience elderly people or those with physical disabilities who previously relied on helicopters for easier access to the shrine.
Authorities have deployed around 50,000 security personnel, set up multi-layered security cordons, installed CCTV cameras, and increased drone surveillance (for security forces only). Quick Reaction Teams, bomb disposal units, dog squads, and convoy escorts are also in place to secure the pilgrimage.
Yes, the Amarnath Yatra has been targeted multiple times, with at least 36 attacks over the past 32 years. The deadliest occurred in 2000 at Pahalgam, killing 32. Attacks have included shootings, grenade attacks, and ambushes, prompting increasingly stringent security over the years.