45 mountain rescue teams deployed for Amarnath yatra this year

Against the backdrop of the terror attack in 2025 in Pahalgam, which is on the main yatra route, and in the wake of militants shifting to jungle warfare in Kashmir, 45 specialised mountain rescue teams will be deployed at 21 locations along the arduous twin routes of the Amarnath Yatra this year.

“These teams are equipped with enhanced rescue and emergency response resources. They are tasked with assisting pilgrims, and responding to contingencies during the pilgrimage,” Director General of Police (DGP), Jammu & Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat, who flagged the teams off, said.

“The specialised teams have been strategically positioned to provide rapid response in the event of accidents, adverse weather conditions, or other emergencies during the annual yatra,” the DGP said of the first such initiative with highly trained personnel manning the yatra routes.

The Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to begin on July 3. Mr. Prabhat highlighted the “interoperability and coordinated deployment” among the different security agencies tasked with providing security cover during the pilgrimage. 

He also highlighted the dangers posed by cloudbursts and landslides in mountainous areas. “These mountain rescue teams play a crucial role during emergencies,” Mr. Prabhat said, speaking of the dangers posed by cloudbursts and landslides in mountainous areas.

“These special teams are highly trained in the high-altitude rescue operations, special rope techniques, avalanche awareness, and disaster management,” Abdul Gani Mir, DGP, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), said.

“The level of preparedness was visible during the Gulmarg rescue operation. The presence of these personnel will add to the sense of security for pilgrims,” Mr. Mir said, referring to the rescue of 300 tourists by the SDRF after the Gulmarg gondola broke down in May. 

The “security and protection of pilgrims remain the first priority”, Mr. Mir told the teams, adding, “The yatra is not merely a pilgrimage but symbolises the devotion and faith of hundreds of devotees who trek arduous trails and severe weather conditions to reach the cave shrine.”

The special teams were inducted at a time when Pahalgam, the main yatra route in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, witnessed a terror attack on tourists in April 2025, which left 26 civilians dead, and triggered a brief war between India and Pakistan.