Amarnath pilgrims' number shrink, thanks to stone-pelters

The Amarnath Yatra, that was flagged off from Jammu on Wednesday, has seen a significant dip of eight to 10 per cent in the registration of pilgrims as compared to last year on account of Kashmir unrest and threat from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Last year, the Yatra had witnessed the least numbers of pilgrims in over a decade with only 2.2 lakh people offering prayers at the holy shrine.

Wary of the threat from Lashkar as well as the stone-pelters, the Centre, after consulting Jammu and Kashmir government, has almost doubled the presence of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) — from 115 companies (11,500 personnel) last year to 210 companies (21,000 personnel) — this year.

Sources said the component of CRPF, J&K Police and SSB has been increased this time to take care of threat from the stone pelters.

The security arrangements are being personally supervised by the union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi who left for Srinagar on Wednesday and would be among the first to visit the Shrine.

"The maximum threat is to the Yatris who are reaching there without getting themselves registered to visit Amarnath shrine through shorter 14 kilometre Baltal route. They need to be sanitised before being cleared, as terrorists can use their garb to infiltrate and create mayhem," sources said.

To sanitise the vast Amaranth Yatra area, stretching from Pehalgam to Baltal, Centre is using satellite tracking imagery system besides innumerable drones and CCTV cameras to pinpoint any suspicious movement. Bullet-proof tents have also been erected at vulnerable points.

Residential accommodation and mess facilities for 250 medical personnel to provide medical assistance for the pilgrims have also been put in place.