'Operation Shiva' launched to secure Amarnath Yatra after Pahalgam terror attack

Srinagar: In response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, security agencies have launched ‘Operation Shiva’ to ensure the safe and smooth conduct of the upcoming annual Amarnath Yatra.

‘Operation Shiva’, the coordinated initiative by the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir police is aimed at providing full security cover to the pilgrimage route leading to the revered Amarnath cave shrine, located at an altitude of 3,880 metres in the south Kashmir Himalayas.

This year, the yatra will begin on July 3 and conclude on August 9, spanning 38 days, which is shorter than last year’s 52-day schedule. The reduced duration is part of a broader security and logistical recalibration, officials said.

As part of unprecedented security arrangements, jammers will be installed for the first time to protect the yatra convoy during its movement, they said. The convoy will be escorted by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and all roads leading to the yatra routes and national highways will be temporarily blocked during its passage to ensure maximum safety.

Nearly 50,000 paramilitary personnel, in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, will conduct daily road opening operations to detect and neutralise hidden explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) will be deployed at sensitive locations to respond swiftly to any threat.

Officials said a multi-layered security grid will be put in place along both the traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the shorter Baltal route in Ganderbal. Security forces have already conducted 3D mapping of the entire route, while entry and exit points have undergone a comprehensive security audit.

To enhance surveillance and tracking, all registered pilgrims will be issued RFID tags, enabling real-time monitoring throughout the journey. Additionally, drones, CCTV networks, and sniffer dogs will be part of the security apparatus.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed security forces to maintain the highest level of alert during the yatra. Senior officials from the administration, police, and paramilitary forces have already reviewed arrangements at Yatri Niwas, the central accommodation facility for pilgrims.

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has reiterated that individuals below 13 years or above 70 years of age, and pregnant women, will not be allowed to undertake the yatra, even if they possess the mandatory medical certificates.

Each year, the Amarnath Yatra attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees from across India, who make the arduous high-altitude trek to offer prayers at the holy cave, where a naturally formed ice Shiva Lingam is enshrined.

“This year’s yatra is not just a religious event — it’s a message of resilience. We will not be cowed by terror,” said a senior police officer involved in 'Operation Shiva'.