As preparations for the annual Amarnath Yatra gather momentum, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday expressed dismay over the decision to disallow helicopter services from the key routes this year. The 38-day pilgrimage is slated to commence on July 3 and will proceed via two primary routes — the 48-kilometre Pahalgam path in Anantnag and the 14-kilometre steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal. The first group of pilgrims will depart from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp on July 2 and reach the twin base camps in Nuwan (Pahalgam route) and Baltal (Sonamarg route) on the same evening.
The Chief Minister welcomed the beginning of the pilgrimage but raised concerns about the move to prohibit helicopter operations. “It is good that the Amarnath Yatra is about to begin. We also want it to go smoothly. There is only one thing that I find absurd, that helicopter services are not permitted this year. This sends the wrong message to the rest of the nation… For the first time in many years, helicopters are not permitted from Pahalgam and Baltal. This should not send a wrong message to the rest of the nation regarding the situation in Jammu-Kashmir,” he stated, as per news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Srinagar | On Amarnath Yatra, J&K CM Omar Abdullah says, “It is good that the Amarnath Yatra is about to begin. We also want it to go smoothly. There is only one thing that I find absurd, that helicopter services are not permitted this year. This sends the wrong message… pic.twitter.com/PoPFVViWgf
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2025
A no-fly zone has been declared over the entire pilgrimage route from July 1 to August 10, prohibiting the use of UAVs, drones, and balloons.
Centre Reviews Security Preparedness Ahead of Yatra
In a high-level meeting held on Tuesday, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan assessed the security framework in place for the forthcoming pilgrimage. As reported by PTI, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Kumar Deka and senior officials from the Army, BSF, CRPF, local police, and other security agencies were also present during the review session.
According to officials, advanced surveillance measures are being deployed to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. These include facial recognition systems, comprehensive CCTV monitoring, and radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging of pilgrims.
Officials also shared that a multi-layered security blanket has been arranged along the entire yatra route and at all associated base camps.
Security arrangements have been significantly ramped up this year in light of recent terror incidents. The Union Home Secretary directed agencies to remain on high alert and maintain coordination across forces to ensure a smooth and secure pilgrimage.
The heightened caution comes against the backdrop of a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, where 26 tourists lost their lives. The pilgrimage has faced terrorist threats in the past as well, with the most severe in July 2017, when eight devotees were killed.
Omar Abdullah On Evacuation of Indian Nationals from Iran
Separately, speaking on the evacuation of Indians from Iran, Omar Abdullah informed ANI that he had been in constant communication with the Ministry of External Affairs. “I had been in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs. I also spoke to External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. He assured me that our students would be evacuated from those areas where danger was maximum, especially Tehran and Isfahan. They are being brought to Armenia by land. They would be brought home from Armenia,” he said.
