MHA reviews security situation for Amarnath yatra
*Army, IAF, NDRF, CAPFs, JKP deployed
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 27: Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla today held high-level review of security and other arrangements for Shri Amarnath Ji yatra with heads of all paramilitary forces and senior officers of civil, police and intelligence agencies while Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said his Ministry has fully funded and supported establishment of two 100-bedded hospitals by the DRDO at Baltal and Chandanwari routes which have been operationalized ahead of start of annual pilgrimage from July 1.
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Bhalla chaired the meeting via video conferencing from the North Block which was attended by senior MHA officials Incharge J&K, heads of all paramilitary forces including CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Home Secretary RK Goyal, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh, Special DG CID Rashmi Ranjan Swain, Additional DGP Jammu Mukesh Singh and Additional DGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar among others.
“All security arrangements are in place four days ahead of the pilgrimage. All additional companies of paramilitary forces sent by the MHA have also been deployed. Additional cops from JKP and JKAP have been engaged. Army, IAF, NDRF and SDRF have taken assigned positions,” the officials said.
Role of all security and Intelligence agencies came up for review in the meeting and the Union Home Secretary directed for ensuring fool-proof security arrangements for the pilgrimage which will last 62 days this year from July 1-August 31.
“All security agencies have their role defined,” the officials said.
The final contours of the Security Grid were reviewed at the meeting and it was stressed that inter-agency coordination should be flawless, keeping in mind all the threats and inter-changed duties among the forces.
The sources said the use of drones, apart from the traditional methods of securing the yatra routes, was underlined, besides using search-and-rescue dogs at all places, including near the cave shrine, in order to respond quickly in case of a natural or man-made disaster.
A team of NDRF canines has already been deployed so that the dogs are acclimatised with the height and cold weather.
A team of experts and the NDRF will undertake an aerial survey of the upper reaches to provide early warnings for any glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) or flash flood-like situation.
A major change effected this time in the security apparatus is the deployment of the mountain-warfare trained personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at the cave shrine in place of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
This was third high-level review of security situation for Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage by the Union Home Ministry. Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed yatra arrangements in New Delhi on June 9 and in Srinagar on June 24.
The MHA has dispatched nearly 300 additional companies of paramilitary forces for the yatra. Total number of companies of all security agencies being deployed for the pilgrimage is around 600, they said.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya today also reviewed health services and quality facilities for devotees of Baba Amarnath Ji in Jammu and Kashmir with senior officers of the Health Ministry and Directorate General of Health Services in the Union capital.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has fully funded and supported establishment of two 100-bedded hospitals by DRDO at two axis routes of Baltal and Chandanwari, which have been operationalized, an official statement issued by the MoHFW after the meeting said.
It said the hospitals will have accommodation facilities of staff deputed for yatra. They will have facilities like diagnosis, treatment, labs, Radio diagnosis, Gynaecological, ICUs, hyperbaric oxygen chambers etc.
“The hospitals will function 24×7 and will be manned by specialist doctors with an independent trauma unit also,” the statement said, adding that medical facilities have been set up by the Union Health Ministry at the base camp and enroute with required infrastructure.
The Minister directed the officials to support the Union Territory administration to ensure that the pilgrims are provided the required health facilities and medical services so that they are in good physical condition to undertake the journey.
“Will ensure the devotees are provided the best health services and medical facilities during the yatra,” Mandaviya said.
According to the statement, the Ministry is assisting the Union Territory administration with healthcare arrangements on the directions of the Minister to enhance and anticipate adequate requirements.
The Directorate General of Health Services has also taken up deputation of healthcare workers by soliciting nominations from 11 States and Union Territories and Central Government hospitals.
These teams will be deputed in four batches. A team from its Emergency Medical Relief division is conducting an on-site assessment of the local medical infrastructure and makeshift hospitals.
For better emergency preparedness, understanding of the pattern of diseases and surveillance of health-related issues, a customised web-enabled real-time data collection module for the yatra is being developed, the statement said.
The Ministry has developed advisories for enhancing awareness of the pilgrims. Standard operating procedures for medical management of high-altitude emergencies have also been prepared, it said.
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