Enhanced Security Measures for Pilgrimage Safety, Comprehensive Aviation Ban Implemented on Amarnath Yatra Routes

Jammu and Kashmir administration has declared the entire Amarnath Yatra route a no-fly zone for the upcoming pilgrimage season, following directives from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The prohibition includes all aerial activities such as drones, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), paragliders, kites, balloons, etc. The Amarnath Yatra no-flying zone will continue from July 1st to August 10th, 2025. The drone ban encompasses both the traditional Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal route extending to the sacred shrine of Amarnath.

The official order issued by the Jammu & Kashmir administration stated, “All stakeholders have discussed the prevailing security scenario in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and have proposed additional logistics provisions.”

The decision to impose drone restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir comes in response to heightened security concerns following recent terror incidents in the Kashmir valley. The Amarnath Yatra security framework for 2025 includes the deployment of approximately 580 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) along the pilgrimage route. Advanced security protocols include aerial surveillance systems, RFID tracking of pilgrims, multi-tier security cordons, and comprehensive ground security operations.

For the first time, the Amarnath Yatra in July-August 2025 will span only 38 days, significantly shorter than the previous year’s 54-day duration. The Amarnath yatra will begin on July 3rd and end on August 9th, 2025. Following the implementation of comprehensive security protocols, authorities have reopened tourist destinations that were temporarily closed after security concerns in the Kashmir valley. Earlier, 16 parks were closed to visitors due to the terror incidents in the Pahalgam region.

The J&K no-fly zone Amarnath directive includes provisions for emergencies, disaster management operations, and surveillance activities by security forces. These exemptions ensure that critical operations can continue while maintaining overall Jammu and Kashmir pilgrimage safety. While the Amarnath Yatra holds profound religious significance for Hindu devotees, thousands of pilgrims undertake the challenging trek during summers to witness a naturally formed ice lingam, whose size varies with lunar phases.

“The no-flying order is a precautionary but necessary move, given the nature of threats we face today,” explained a senior police official involved in Yatra route security planning.

Given the steep and challenging terrain, pilgrims are required to obtain medical fitness certificates before taking on the pilgrimage. The Jammu and Kashmir news regarding enhanced safety measures reflects its administrative commitment to ensure devotees' welfare during their Amarnath Yatra. And the comprehensiveness in security arrangements demonstrates the government’s dedication to maintaining sanctity and safety at one of Hinduism’s most revered pilgrimages while addressing contemporary security challenges in the region.